Clarence Pier Brewers Fayre to close three years after £1m refurbishment due to major five-year restructure

A beachfront restaurant will close at the end of this month despite undergoing a million pound refurbishment.

Clarence Pier Brewers Fayre will shut down on Tuesday, June 30 as part of Whitbread’s five-year overhaul to make £250 million in cost savings, following growing financial pressures in the hospitality industry.

Whitbread’s portfolio currently consists of Beefeater, Bar + Block and Brewers Fayre restaurants, and Premier Inn.

Customers of the Southsea restaurant recieved an email earlier this month saying: “We are writing to let you know we are making changes at some of our restaurants. Unfortunately Brewers Fayre, Clarence Pier in Southsea will be closed from 30th June, 2026. We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause.”

The closure comes after Whitbread confirmed in April that it would shut its remaining 197 Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants as part of the restructure. The plan will see approximately 3,800 people lose their jobs.

After a £1 million revamp, Clarence Pier Brewers Fayre reopened in February 2023 following a 12-month closure caused by significant damage during Storm Eunice.

The storm meant rainwater entered the property through the windows and lights, destroying the majority of the furniture and fixtures within the restaurant-pub, which also has an indoor soft play.

As part of the the company’s reorganisation, £1.5 billon worth of its freehold properties will be sold to “fund future growth and increasingly look to grow on a leasehold basis”, and 197 restaurants will be replaced with an integrated food and drink model.

Chief executive Dominic Paul said: “We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term.

“This has been a rigorous process and we’ve approached all options with an open mind.

“Our new five-year plan builds on our strengths and drives a significant acceleration of our strategy - This plan will transform Whitbread into a higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business.”

The business reported a pre-tax profit of £298 million for the year to February 2026, which was 19 per cent lower than the year before.

Harbour Lights Beefeater, in Cosham, remains open with no closure date confirmed.