Pub-restaurant chain closing down shares heartfelt message to prospects – open since 1974
Customers have been sent a heartfelt message ahead of the closures next month
Heartfelt message sent out to customers via email (stock image)(Image: Getty)
UK pub-restaurant chain Beefeater is permanently closing all 106 of its remaining sites next month as part of a major corporate restructuring and cost-cutting plan, following rising business costs and taxes. Ahead of its UK-wide closures, the restaurant chain, which first opened in 1974, has issued a heartfelt message to customers.
In an email being sent to past diners and customers participating in its loyalty schemes, Beefeater shared a message of thanks. It said: “A message from your local Beefeater: We want to say a huge thank you for your custom at our Beefeater restaurants.”
It added: “As you may have seen, we have recently announced changes to our business, which is resulting in the closure of our Branded Restaurants. This means that on Thursday, September 10, 2026, your local Beefeater and all other UK Beefeaters will close.”
As a result of the planned closures, Beefeater Reward Club, and the chain’s other loyalty schemes, Bonus Club and Tasty Rewards, will close on Monday, August 31, 2026. Between now and then, loyalty customers need to have earned points or entered receipt details via their My Account by Monday, August 24, 2026.
All UK Beefeaters will close next month
Loyalty customers also need to convert these points to points-based vouchers and use them in Beefeater restaurants by Monday, August 31, 2026. At 7am on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, all live points balances on the loyalty website will expire.
Beefeater said: “Please note that loyalty points-based vouchers terms and conditions still apply until closure of the scheme and restaurants.” At the bottom of the email, Beefeater reiterated: “From all of us at Beefeater, thank you for being a valued customer.”
In a final point, the chain added: “Important: Selected Beefeater Restaurants may close earlier than Thursday, September 10, 2026. We will communicate any earlier closures separately.”
Beefeater was first introduced by Whitbread to offer straightforward, budget-friendly meals. These included dishes like prawn cocktails and char-grilled steaks.
It was designed to compete with the very popular Berni Inns steakhouse chain of that time, which Beefeater ended up acquiring in 1995. When it shuts down on September 10, 2026, the brand will have been in business for 52 years.
As part of Whitbread’s massive corporate overhaul, all five of its core branded pub and restaurant chains are closing permanently in September 2026. The following chains are closing on September 3:
- Bar + Block
- Table Table
- Cookhouse + Pub
- Whitbread Inns / Thyme Bar and Grill
All 89 locations of family-focused pub chain Brewers Fayre will permanently close on September 7 following dinner service. A combined 261 venues are vanishing as Whitbread shifts to a “pure-play hotel business”.
