Common Table Group acquires 57 former Whitbread restaurant sites

Common Table Group has acquired 57 former restaurant sites from Whitbread, the owner of Premier Inn, as part of a broader restructuring by the hospitality giant. The acquisition includes former venues from the Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, and Cookhouse brands.

Supported by consultancy Rove360, the new group plans to refurbish the sites, introduce new menus, and offer specialty coffee from its sister brand, Rodeo. The initiative is expected to create approximately 700 new jobs, with the first locations slated to reopen as early as mid-November.

Whitbread previously announced the closure of its standalone restaurant chains to cut £2 billion in costs, citing rising business rates and national insurance as primary drivers. The decision had previously led to nearly 4,000 job losses and faced criticism from investors such as Corvex Asset Management.