FANS of a family favourite restaurant chain have been left shocked after a venue abruptly shut its doors for good.
Whitbread has around 840 sites across the UK and owns brands including Premier Inn, Beefeater and Brewers Fayre.
Last week, it revealed plans to close more than 200 of its branded locations and axe 1,500 jobs in favour of building more hotel rooms.
The chain has now revealed it closed the Premier Inn and Beefeater in Godalming, Surrey at the end of last week.
Whitbread told The Sun the decision to close the site was made before last week's annoucement.
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Locals have taken to social media to share their sadness over the decision to close the venue.
One Facebook user said: "Sad to learn yesterday evening that the Premier Inn and Beefeater on Meadrow is closing next week - I and a few friends of mine used to get together for a midweek drink there quite regularly."
Another reacted, writing: "The staff there are all great."
A third added: "We couldn't fault the service they gave us."
And a fourth cried: "That's sad!"
Last week, Whitbread said 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.
If a site is losing a branded restaurant, a new integrated restaurant will be made within the hotel.
The move will leave Whitbread with 387 restaurants that are part of its hotels and 196 branded restaurants.
The hospitality chain said it has already agreed to sell 21 of these restaurants for £28million.
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However, it's unclear exactly which pubs and restaurants are earmarked for closure and where they are located.
The group said the job cuts are still subject to consultation and come from its total UK workforce of 37,000 employees.
It followed reports that Whitbread was looking to speed up plans to sell hundreds of its pubs and restaurants.
The chain was said to have marked at least 250 of its 440 pubs and restaurants for sale, most of which are located close to Premier Inn hotels.
Earlier this year, The Sun revealed that over 7,000 pubs are expected to go bust in the next year.
Rising costs and fewer punters through the door has meant that four out of five pubs have seen their profits take a nosedive.
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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.
Wetherspoons has confirmed that 18 pubs have been sold, or surrendered to the landlord so far this year.
Meanwhile, locals could lose as many as 17 Wetherspoons drinking spots, which remain up for sale or under offer.
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.
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