Family favourite pub chain with over 840 branches abruptly shuts ‘lovely’ site amid plans to close 200

A FAMILY favourite pub chain with more than 840 branches has suddenly shut a "lovely"; site.

The unexpected move comes amid plans to close 200 more of the Whitbread-owned pubs and restaurants.

Whitbread is a hospitality business which owns well-known brands including Premier Inn, Beefeater, Cookhouse Pub, Table Table and more.

Hampton Inn Table Table shocked and devastated locals when it shut up shop on July 4.

The pub appears as "permanently closed" on Google search, with staff reportedly let go and the premises now vacant.

There has been no confirmation as to what will happen to the building, which is located next to Premier Inn.

Local residents flocked to Facebook to share their disappointment.

One person said: "Miss their breakfasts," while another wrote: "loved our naughty lunches there."

A third added: ";Oh this is sad many lovely memories."

A fourth simply commented: "end of an era."

But, Whitbread have confirmed the closure is part of a string of venues being sold as opposed to others being converted into rooms.

The hospitality business plans to axe 1,500 jobs and shut down over 200 eateries across the UK.

Whitbread said in April it plans to convert 112 restaurants into hotel extensions, while closing 126 "loss-making" venues.

It hopes the sales will be completed within the next two years and the restaurants will remain open as usual until they are sold.

This is to accommodate its "Accelerating Growth Plan" that will add 3,500 new hotel rooms to Premier Inn’s UK pipeline.

The hospitality chain said it has already agreed to sell 21 of these restaurants for £28million.

Whitbread said: "Over the next 24 months we plan to replace around 112 of our lower-returning branded restaurants with integrated restaurants and use the vacated space to add new higher returning hotel rooms to help meet strong demand."

It added that in the same time period it's planning to exit 126 branded restaurants which they will continue to operate as they do now so that they can be sold as going concerns.

The takings from the sales will be used to help fund more tailored, integrated restaurants at Whitbread's affected hotels as well as the construction of new hotel rooms across the estate.

Another venue that has recently closed is the Premier Inn and Beefeater in Godalming, Surrey.

Whitbread told The Sun the decision to close the site was made before last week's annoucement.

Locals have taken to social media to share their sadness over the decision to close the venue.

What is happening to the hospitality industry?

Many Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.

Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.

Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches.

Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.

Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.

Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.

The brand plans to close 20 loss-making restaurants after a “challenging” start to the year.

 Stonegate, has raised fears about its survival as it races to plug its debts.