A host of major UK pub chains, including Beefeater, Brewdog and Revolution, are permanently shutting hundreds of venues after facing soaring business costs
Brits are facing a massive blow as a wave of local boozers prepare to lock their doors for good. A brutal mix of rising business rates, national insurance hikes, increased minimum wage costs and plummeting footfall has hammered the hospitality sector, forcing long-standing brands to make drastic cuts.
Leading the mass exodus is the iconic Beefeater chain, which officially confirmed this week the date it will pull down the shutters on every single site.
Here is the full breakdown of the major pub and restaurant chains closing venues across the UK this year, leaving thirsty punters high and dry.
Beefeater
The legendary steak and grill brand will vanish from British high streets entirely on September 10, shutting down all 106 remaining restaurants. The final countdown was confirmed in an update sent out to reward club members.
Parent company Whitbread is carrying out a sweeping company-wide overhaul that is expected to wipe out 3,800 jobs.
Chief executive Dominic Paul previously admitted the firm was forced into the drastic restructure “in light of significant cost increases” driven by tax and rate hikes.
Brewers Fayre
Another family-friendly favourite disappearing from the map is Brewers Fayre, which is also owned by Whitbread.
Its venues are scheduled to close their doors in early September as part of the same restructuring plan. It is not a complete curtain call for every location, however.
Rival pub giant Wetherspoon has bought up several former Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites, while Whitbread plans to convert other former pubs into Premier Inn hotel rooms.
Bar + Block
Steakhouse brand Bar + Block is also being wiped out entirely as part of Whitbread’s massive restructuring efforts.
Brewdog
The craft beer giant parted ways with 38 of its 60 UK bars earlier this year, resulting in 484 redundancies.
The drastic cuts came after the company was acquired by US drinks firm Tilray Brands in a £33 million rescue deal, with venues that couldn’t be saved closing instantly.
The Revel Collective (Revolution Bars)
The nightlife operator behind Revolution Bars, Revolucion de Cuba, and Peach Pubs collapsed into administration after years of tough trading conditions.
A total of 21 locations, made up of 14 Revolution Bars, six Revolucion de Cuba venues and one Peach Pub, were axed, costing more than 590 jobs.
The blow followed the shuttering of 36 Revolution sites last year under a court-approved restructuring plan.