# WHITBREAD

Summary updated: 2026-10-04T14:49:57.431899Z
Canonical: https://finbar.com/research/companies/whitbread

## Overview

Whitbread is a UK hospitality company whose core business is operating hotels, led by its Premier Inn brand. Its hotel portfolio also includes hub by Premier Inn and Premier Inn Germany, with operations across the UK, Ireland and Germany. [1](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009844)[2](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-brands/)

The company also operates food-and-beverage businesses, including restaurant brands such as Beefeater and Bar + Block. Whitbread’s stated purpose includes providing quality, affordable hotels and meaningful work and development opportunities for its teams. [3](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/)[2](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-brands/)

For the financial year ended 26 February 2026, Whitbread reported revenue of £2,920.2 million; it reported approximately 31,500 employees across the UK and Germany. [4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[3](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/) The company traces its origins to Samuel Whitbread’s brewing partnership in 1742. [5](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-history/)
[1](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009844)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[2](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-brands/)[3](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/)[5](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-history/)

## Products & services

Whitbread’s principal accommodation product is Premier Inn, alongside its compact, digitally enabled city-hotel format hub by Premier Inn and value-focused ZIP concept. Premier Inn rooms offer features including Hypnos® beds, pillow choice, Freeview TV and free Wi‑Fi. Paid upgrades include Premier Plus and Room with a View. [2](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-brands/)[6](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/hotel-bosses-hoping-innovation-is-a-rest-assured-hit/)

Food and beverage is an important part of the guest offer, particularly hot breakfast. Whitbread’s restaurant brands include Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Bar + Block; the latter is an all-day steakhouse serving steaks, burgers, salads, grills and drinks. Whitbread has described plans to move to an integrated food-and-beverage offer and exit remaining branded restaurants, but stated in June 2026 that its branded restaurants were still open and trading. [7](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009945)[8](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/for-guest-information-whitbread-branded-restaurants-are-open-and-trading/)[9](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/bar-block-all-day-steak-restaurant-to-open-on-edinburghs-princes-street/)

Other guest services include bookable meeting rooms, with facilities such as Wi‑Fi, screens, refreshments, catering and standard meeting equipment. Ancillary sales include mattresses: Whitbread reported selling 25,000 in FY2025/26, with retail sales up 25% year on year. Digital capabilities include app booking and check-in, online check-in across the UK estate, and hub room controls for lighting, temperature and Smart TV. [10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P124597295)[11](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125013714)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125010777)[13](https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/business/meeting-rooms.html)[14](https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/faq/meeting-rooms.html)[15](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/new-hub-by-premier-inn-spitalfields-brick-lane-celebrates-official-opening/)

In FY2025/26, Whitbread reported group revenue of £2,920.2m, comprising £2,245.7m from accommodation (about 76.9%), £627.3m from food and beverage (about 21.5%) and £47.2m from other revenue (about 1.6%). The percentages are calculated from the reported revenue figures. [4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)
[7](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009945)[10](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P124597295)[11](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125013714)[12](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125010777)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[2](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-brands/)[6](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/hotel-bosses-hoping-innovation-is-a-rest-assured-hit/)[8](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/for-guest-information-whitbread-branded-restaurants-are-open-and-trading/)[9](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/bar-block-all-day-steak-restaurant-to-open-on-edinburghs-princes-street/)[13](https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/business/meeting-rooms.html)[14](https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/faq/meeting-rooms.html)[15](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/new-hub-by-premier-inn-spitalfields-brick-lane-celebrates-official-opening/)

## Geographic presence

Whitbread’s latest available full-year reporting is for FY2025/26. Its principal hotel markets are the UK and Ireland and Germany: at year-end it operated approximately 850 hotels in the UK and Ireland and 65 in Germany. [16](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=D326529) Reported revenue was £2,659.3 million from the UK and Ireland and £260.9 million from Germany, out of £2,920.2 million in total—about 91.1% and 8.9%, respectively. [4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726) Average directly employed staff were 30,723 in the UK and Ireland and 1,663 in Germany, approximately 94.9% and 5.1% of the combined total. [17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305736)

Whitbread also has an international presence through a 49% interest in a joint venture operating Premier Inn-branded hotels in the UAE; that venture holds a 49% interest in a Qatar hotel company. [18](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125015226) The company’s 2025/26 Modern Slavery Statement describes 11 hotels in its Middle East joint-venture footprint, including in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar. [19](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2026/06/Whitbread-PLC-Modern-Slavery-Statement-2025_26.pdf) Whitbread’s registered office is at Whitbread Court, Houghton Hall Business Park, Porz Avenue, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 5XE. [20](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/contact-us/)
[16](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=D326529)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)[17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305736)[17](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305736)[18](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125015226)[19](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2026/06/Whitbread-PLC-Modern-Slavery-Statement-2025_26.pdf)[20](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/contact-us/)

## Business segments

For the 52 weeks ended 26 February 2026, Whitbread reported three operating segments: UK and Ireland, Germany, and Central and other. UK and Ireland generated £2,659.3m of revenue (about 91.1% of group revenue) and £653.3m of segment adjusted operating profit (about 100.7% of the group segment total). Germany generated £260.9m of revenue (about 8.9%) and £24.8m of segment adjusted operating profit (about 3.8%). Central and other reported no segment revenue and a £29.2m adjusted operating loss (about –4.5% of the group total). Profit shares are calculated against group segment adjusted operating profit of £648.9m; geographic profit shares exceed 100% before the central loss. Central and other includes public-company and other central overheads and joint-venture profit. [21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014916)[22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014917)[23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014919)[24](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014920)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014921)

The geographic segments are focused on Whitbread’s Premier Inn hotel business: the company describes Premier Inn as its UK-leading hotel brand with a growing presence in Germany, and identifies growing in the UK and focusing on its strengths in Germany as strategic priorities. [26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009941)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009909)[28](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009911)
[21](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014916)[22](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014917)[23](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014919)[24](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014920)[25](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014921)[26](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009941)[27](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009909)[28](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009911)

## Company history

Whitbread traces its origins to 11 December 1742, when Samuel Whitbread entered a brewing partnership with Godfrey and Thomas Shewell. In 1784, it installed a steam engine at its brewery, and in 1968 agreed to brew Heineken under licence as demand for lager grew. [5](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-history/)

The company expanded beyond brewing with its 1995 acquisition of Costa Coffee, then a 39-shop business. It sold the Whitbread Beer Company in 2000 and demerged its Pubs & Bars division in 2001, marking a shift away from its traditional brewing and pub businesses. [29](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/proposed-sale-of-costa-to-coca-cola/)[30](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2021/02/16082132/whitbread_annual_report_0001.pdf)[31](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2021/02/16082214/whitbread_interim_report_01.pdf)

Whitbread acquired Premier Lodge in 2004 and combined it with Travel Inn to create Premier Travel Inn, renamed Premier Inn in 2007. That year it also sold David Lloyd Leisure. Premier Inn opened its first hotel in Germany, in Frankfurt, in 2016. In 2018, Whitbread sold Costa to Coca-Cola, further concentrating the company on its hotel business. [16](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=D326529)[32](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2007/10/18123445/Interim-Results.pdf)[33](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/premier-inn-opens-in-frankfurt/)[29](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/proposed-sale-of-costa-to-coca-cola/)
[16](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=D326529)[5](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-history/)[29](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/proposed-sale-of-costa-to-coca-cola/)[30](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2021/02/16082132/whitbread_annual_report_0001.pdf)[31](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2021/02/16082214/whitbread_interim_report_01.pdf)[32](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2007/10/18123445/Interim-Results.pdf)[33](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/premier-inn-opens-in-frankfurt/)

## Sources

1. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p2](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009844)
2. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-brands/)
3. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/)
4. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p174](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305726)
5. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/about-us/our-history/)
6. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/hotel-bosses-hoping-innovation-is-a-rest-assured-hit/)
7. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009945)
8. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/for-guest-information-whitbread-branded-restaurants-are-open-and-trading/)
9. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/bar-block-all-day-steak-restaurant-to-open-on-edinburghs-princes-street/)
10. [WHITBREAD — Presentation (2026 Y), p54](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P124597295)
11. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p127](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125013714)
12. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p31](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125010777)
13. [www.premierinn.com](https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/business/meeting-rooms.html)
14. [www.premierinn.com](https://www.premierinn.com/gb/en/faq/meeting-rooms.html)
15. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/new-hub-by-premier-inn-spitalfields-brick-lane-celebrates-official-opening/)
16. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y)](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=D326529)
17. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p178](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=T14305736)
18. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p188](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125015226)
19. [cdn.whitbread.co.uk](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2026/06/Whitbread-PLC-Modern-Slavery-Statement-2025_26.pdf)
20. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/contact-us/)
21. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p174](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014916)
22. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p174](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014917)
23. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p174](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014919)
24. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p174](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014920)
25. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p174](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125014921)
26. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p5](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009941)
27. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009909)
28. [WHITBREAD — Full financial report (2026 Y), p4](https://app.finbar.com/go?id=P125009911)
29. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/proposed-sale-of-costa-to-coca-cola/)
30. [cdn.whitbread.co.uk](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2021/02/16082132/whitbread_annual_report_0001.pdf)
31. [cdn.whitbread.co.uk](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2021/02/16082214/whitbread_interim_report_01.pdf)
32. [cdn.whitbread.co.uk](https://cdn.whitbread.co.uk/media/2007/10/18123445/Interim-Results.pdf)
33. [www.whitbread.co.uk](https://www.whitbread.co.uk/premier-inn-opens-in-frankfurt/)

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