Latest news with #Whitbread
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Family favourite restaurant chain with 800 sites shuts ‘landmark' branch for good in huge blow to locals
Hints of a surprising takeover emerge after sudden closure of a long-standing restaurant LAST ORDERS Family favourite restaurant chain with 800 sites shuts 'landmark' branch for good in huge blow to locals A POPULAR restaurant that's become a local landmark has shut for good, leaving nearby residents gutted. The venue at Emersons Green in Bristol, served its last meal on Thursday July 10. 3 However, the neighbouring Premier Inn will remain open with its own integrated breakfast area for hotel guests. Credit: Beefeater 3 Nothing has yet been announced It's now listed as 'permanently closed' online, with no official signage or farewell notice on the former Beefeater building. However, the neighbouring Premier Inn will remain open with its own integrated breakfast area for hotel guests. Speculation is already circling online about what's next for the site, with some locals suggesting it may be taken over by the Papas Group – the team behind Papas Fish and Chips and Wendy's. Sudden closure A spokesperson for Whitebread Group, which owns Beefeater and Premier Inn, told BristolLive: 'We'd like to thank our wonderful guests and team for their service and custom over the years. 'The nearest Beefeater is now The Gifford (Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford) and we do hope to welcome people there.' Whitbread added that the site had been sold to another restaurant business, but stopped short of naming which one. The closure comes as part of the company's 'Accelerating Growth Plan', which aims to replace underperforming restaurants with hotel rooms in high-demand areas. Over the next two years, Whitbread plans to exit 126 branded restaurants across the UK, 21 of which are being sold for £28 million . Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down As part of the overhaul, the business will also be converting 112 restaurant spaces into integrated dining areas within its Premier Inn hotels – a format already used at 387 sites across the country. The plan is expected to cut around 1,500 roles out of a workforce of 37,000. However, Whitbread says it will try to offer alternative roles to affected staff through redeployment or its wider recruitment process, which sees around 15,000 hires each year. Dominic Paul, Chief Executive Officer of Whitbread, said: 'When I joined Whitbread as CEO in January 2023, it was clear to me that we had a high performing hotels business, with a strong platform for growth in both the UK and Germany. 'Our strategy of continuing to invest in our brand, teams, and estate for the benefit of our guests and customers has secured a market-leading position for Premier "Inn in the UK and is also delivering strong business performance. 'This plan is a further positive step, delivering a better experience for our hotel guests and helping to extend our market leadership in the UK. 'I recognise that these changes will be unsettling for affected team members and we are committed to working hard to enable as many as possible of those affected to stay with Whitbread... Our teams are at the heart of our guest experience.' This latest shutdown adds to a growing list of closures across the UK food scene. Other recent closures Recently, Frankie & Benny's axed 35 restaurants, Prezzo shut 46 sites, and Pizza Express pulled the plug on three branches. Even Nando's has quietly closed a coup. The Sun has approached Beefeater for further comment. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming. The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested. Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector. It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022. The centre's director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is "less bad" than good. Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams. "The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend," Prof Bamfield said. "Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult." Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023's biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic, Snug and Tile Giant. The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing. However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses. The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Family favourite restaurant chain with 800 sites shuts ‘landmark' branch for good in huge blow to locals
A POPULAR restaurant that's become a local landmark has shut for good, leaving nearby residents gutted. The venue at Emersons Green in Bristol, served its last meal on Thursday July 10. 3 3 It's now listed as 'permanently closed' online, with no official signage or farewell notice on the former Beefeater building. However, the neighbouring Premier Inn will remain open with its own integrated breakfast area for hotel guests. Speculation is already circling online about what's next for the site, with some locals suggesting it may be taken over by the Papas Group – the team behind Papas Fish and Chips and Wendy's. Sudden closure A spokesperson for Whitebread Group, which owns Beefeater and Premier Inn, told BristolLive: 'We'd like to thank our wonderful guests and team for their service and custom over the years. 'The nearest Beefeater is now The Gifford (Fox Den Road, Stoke Gifford) and we do hope to welcome people there.' Whitbread added that the site had been sold to another restaurant business, but stopped short of naming which one. The closure comes as part of the company's 'Accelerating Growth Plan', which aims to replace underperforming restaurants with hotel rooms in high-demand areas. Over the next two years, Whitbread plans to exit 126 branded restaurants across the UK, 21 of which are being sold for £28 million . Britain's retail apocalypse: why your favourite stores KEEP closing down As part of the overhaul, the business will also be converting 112 restaurant spaces into integrated dining areas within its Premier Inn hotels – a format already used at 387 sites across the country. The plan is expected to cut around 1,500 roles out of a workforce of 37,000. However, Whitbread says it will try to offer alternative roles to affected staff through redeployment or its wider recruitment process, which sees around 15,000 hires each year. Dominic Paul, Chief Executive Officer of Whitbread, said: 'When I joined Whitbread as CEO in January 2023, it was clear to me that we had a high performing hotels business, with a strong platform for growth in both the UK and Germany. 'Our strategy of continuing to invest in our brand, teams, and estate for the benefit of our guests and customers has secured a market-leading position for Premier "Inn in the UK and is also delivering strong business performance. 'This plan is a further positive step, delivering a better experience for our hotel guests and helping to extend our market leadership in the UK. 'I recognise that these changes will be unsettling for affected team members and we are committed to working hard to enable as many as possible of those affected to stay with Whitbread... Our teams are at the heart of our guest experience.' This latest shutdown adds to a growing list of closures across the UK food scene. Other recent closures Even Nando's has quietly closed a coup. The Sun has approached Beefeater for further comment. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming. The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested. Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector. It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022. The centre's director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is "less bad" than good. Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams. "The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend," Prof Bamfield said. "Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult." Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023's biggest failures included Paperchase, Cath Kidston, Planet Organic, Snug and Tile Giant. The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing. However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses. The Body Shop and Ted Baker are the biggest names to have already collapsed into administration this year. 3
Scottish Sun
14-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Seven biggest employers for jobs without a degree and you could get paid up to £46k
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LANDING a job with one of these employers could see you eventually earn nearly £10,000 more than the UK's average salary, and you don't even need a degree. Many job hunters are curious to know what their starting salary could be if they do not hold any qualifications. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 We share what your starting salary could be if you entered a job without a degree A growing number of firms offer apprenticeships, to help young people to earn a wage while they work. But how much can you earn if you choose not to go down the University route? Research by hiring firm Adzuna, shared with The Sun, found Busy Bee Childcare pays its level three apprentices £262 a week. This works out at around £13,649.48 per year. The firm was named as one of the top 10 places to earn an apprenticeship, following research by the Department for Education and RateMyApprenticeship. Meanwhile, if you choose not to go down the apprenticeship route, entry level employees could also secure a role at the firm for £25,083. This includes jobs as a nursery practitioner and an integrations support coordinator, according to the research. And if you choose to progress your career at the childcare group, you could earn nearly £5,000 more than the average UK employee. Figures show a nursery manager at Busy Bee earns a yearly salary of £42,500. This is higher than the £37,430 the average UK employee is said to earn each year. Why are pubs closing? But it is unclear how long staff need to work at the firm before they can progress into a senior role. Meanwhile, Premier Inn owner Whitbread gives those looking for an entry-level job without a degree a chance to earn £11.79 an hour as a kitchen assistant. Grill chefs also have a chance to earn £12.74 per hour. That works out as an annual salary of £24,523 and £26,499 per year, respectively. But if you stay in the firm and work your way up the ladder you could earn up to £46,250 per year as a general manager. The chain was also rated as one of the top places to earn an apprenticeship in the UK, and offers schemes at its support centre and in hospitality. John Lewis, which was also named as a popular place to secure an apprenticeship, also has a range of schemes on offer. That includes a level three apprenticeship as a Vehicle Paint Technician. Staff are paid £12.45 per hour which would work out at £25,896 per year. That is around £2,000 more than what the average minimum wage worker earns a year. John Lewis is currently recruiting for candidates to start this August, so there is still a chance to apply if you or someone you know is interested. WHAT DO OTHER FIRMS OFFER? 2 Mitchells & Butlers runs a chef apprenticeship scheme which can help you earn up between £300 and £366 a week. You can also join with no qualification as a bar staff and earn £11.44 per hour, which works out as £23,000 per year. Logistics provider GXO lets apprentices earn £19,500 per year through its scheme. Meanwhile McDonald's pays its school leaver apprentices between £9.52 and £12.26 per hour through its crew member and manager apprenticeship schemes. Through this scheme, workers receive day-to-day training in a McDonald's restaurant. The above firms were also recognised as great places to secure an apprenticeship following research by the Department for Education.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Seven biggest employers for jobs without a degree and you could get paid up to £46k
LANDING a job with one of these employers could see you eventually earn nearly £10,000 more than the UK's average salary, and you don't even need a degree. Many job hunters are curious to know what their starting salary could be if they do not hold any qualifications. 2 A growing number of firms offer apprenticeships, to help young people to earn a wage while they work. But how much can you earn if you choose not to go down the University route? Research by hiring firm Adzuna, shared with The Sun, found Busy Bee Childcare pays its level three apprentices £262 a week. This works out at around £13,649.48 per year. The firm was named as one of the top 10 places to earn an apprenticeship, following research by the Department for Education and RateMyApprenticeship. Meanwhile, if you choose not to go down the apprenticeship route, entry level employees could also secure a role at the firm for £25,083. This includes jobs as a nursery practitioner and an integrations support coordinator, according to the research. And if you choose to progress your career at the childcare group, you could earn nearly £5,000 more than the average UK employee. Figures show a nursery manager at Busy Bee earns a yearly salary of £42,500. This is higher than the £37,430 the average UK employee is said to earn each year. Why are pubs closing? But it is unclear how long staff need to work at the firm before they can progress into a senior role. Meanwhile, Premier Inn owner Whitbread gives those looking for an entry-level job without a degree a chance to earn £11.79 an hour as a kitchen assistant. Grill chefs also have a chance to earn £12.74 per hour. That works out as an annual salary of £24,523 and £26,499 per year, respectively. But if you stay in the firm and work your way up the ladder you could earn up to £46,250 per year as a general manager. The chain was also rated as one of the top places to earn an apprenticeship in the UK, and offers schemes at its support centre and in hospitality. John Lewis, which was also named as a popular place to secure an apprenticeship, also has a range of schemes on offer. That includes a level three apprenticeship as a Vehicle Paint Technician. Staff are paid £12.45 per hour which would work out at £25,896 per year. That is around £2,000 more than what the average minimum wage worker earns a year. John Lewis is currently recruiting for candidates to start this August, so there is still a chance to apply if you or someone you know is interested. WHAT DO OTHER FIRMS OFFER? 2 Mitchells & Butlers runs a chef apprenticeship scheme which can help you earn up between £300 and £366 a week. You can also join with no qualification as a bar staff and earn £11.44 per hour, which works out as £23,000 per year. Logistics provider GXO lets apprentices earn £19,500 per year through its scheme. Meanwhile McDonald's pays its school leaver apprentices between £9.52 and £12.26 per hour through its crew member and manager apprenticeship schemes. Through this scheme, workers receive day-to-day training in a McDonald's restaurant. The above firms were also recognised as great places to secure an apprenticeship following research by the Department for Education. What is an apprenticeship? An apprenticeship is a work-based training programme that combines on-the-job experience with classroom learning. Apprentices earn a wage while gaining practical skills and qualifications. Apprenticeships are available to anyone over the age of 16, whether they are school leavers, career changers, or individuals looking to upskill. Applications can be made through the government's apprenticeship website or directly with employers offering apprenticeship programmes. Apprenticeships are funded by the government and employers, meaning there are no tuition fees for the apprentice. Additional support may be available for those with disabilities or learning difficulties. For more details, visit the official UK government apprenticeship website at
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction works begin on hub by Premier Inn hotel in London, UK
UK-based hotel business Whitbread has initiated construction enabling works for its new flagship hub by Premier Inn hotel at 5 Strand, London. The hotel, poised to be one of the largest budget hotels in the city, is situated near Trafalgar Square in Central London. Purchased by Whitbread in August 2022, the site is part of the company's strategy to expand its footprint in the London market. The £200m ($271.78m) project, which includes land and construction costs, will feature a 13-storey, 16,000m² budget hotel offering 693 bedrooms. The hotel is expected to open in late 2028. John F Hunt is responsible for the construction enabling works, which are anticipated to be finished by early 2026. These initial works encompass the demolition of the former office building, reconstruction to ground level, and establishing the hotel's 14-storey core. The contract for main construction is expected to be granted this summer. Whitbread project and programme manager Hester King said: 'Breaking ground at 5 Strand is a major milestone for Whitbread and a defining moment in the evolution of our hub by Premier Inn brand, which began its journey a decade ago at St Martins Lane in Covent Garden. 'This flagship development – just metres from Trafalgar Square and Charing Cross Station – demonstrates our ability to secure, design, and deliver high-quality hotels in London's most complex and sought-after locations. "It reflects the breadth of our in-house expertise and Whitbread's long-term commitment to growing its affordable hotel brands in the capital, where branded budget hotels are in short supply.' Westminster City Council (WCC) granted planning permission for the development in October 2024. Upon completion, Whitbread anticipates employing approximately 150 team members at the hotel, with recruitment efforts focusing on the City of Westminster and neighbouring inner London boroughs. The hub by Premier Inn at 5 Strand aligns with Whitbread's sustainability programme 'Force for Good', and is designed to operate exclusively on electricity from renewable sources. The company is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions from its direct operations by 2040. Currently, the company operates nine Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn hotels within the borough of Westminster and is a signatory to WCC's Sustainable City Charter initiative. "Construction works begin on hub by Premier Inn hotel in London, UK" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Inicia sesión para acceder a tu portafolio Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información Se produjo un error al recuperar la información
