Four Lancashire restaurants to close amid Premier Inn changes which will see 4,000 jobs lost nationally
The firm that owns Premier Inn has announced plans to shut down two of its restaurant brands across the UK, which will include four venues in Lancashire.
The four in Lancashire include Red Lion in Blackpool, Cottams Field in Lancaster, Oakenhurst Farm in Darwen and Morris Dancers in Ormskirk.
Whitbread, which operates multiple chains throughout the country, has confirmed it will close its remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants, resulting in nearly 4,000 job losses across the UK and Ireland.
While the majority of staff will be retained, 12% of workers from the shuttered sites will lose their jobs.
The group said that the plan to overhaul its restaurants forms part of a new five-year strategy which aims to save £250m in the face of cost pressures from business rates and national insurance contributions.
The remaining hotel restaurants are set to be replaced by a hotel-integrated food and drink model, Whitbread confirmed.
The closures mean Beefeater restaurants will cease operations after more than 50 years in business, with Brewers Fayre having been set to celebrate the same milestone in 2029.
The restaurants are typically located next to or inside Premier Inn hotels, and have been a staple for the millions of people who visit per year.
Addressing the decision, Whitbread's chief executive, Dominic Paul, said: “We plan to convert all our remaining branded restaurants to an integrated food and beverage offer that is preferred by our hotel guests and will unlock the addition of more highly profitable extension rooms.
"Our continued efforts to drive our commercial plan and efficiencies will extend our market-leading position and allow us to take share from our competitors, many of which are struggling to grow.”