Mitchells & Butlers set for closures

The group is working with advisors CBRE to offload a number of leasehold sites, which will face permanent closure if buyers cannot be found.

Mitchells & Butlers, which operates more than 1,700 sites across the UK and has around 44,000 employees, did not say how many jobs would be affected by the move.

Since July the group has reopened 95% of its estate since, with the remainder closed subject to a review.

It was reported last month that Mitchells & Butlers had entered into redundancy consultations with staff​​, although it was not disclosed at the time how many jobs were at risk.

The company, which also runs the Toby Carvery and O’Neill’s chains, previously announced sales had dropped 35% since the start of the year to 19 September, as the pandemic plunged the nation into lockdown and forced the closure of hospitality outlets.

Like-for-like sales also fell by 6% in the first three weeks of September.

Discussing the aforementioned closures, a spokesperson for the group said: “As announced in September, Mitchells & Butlers re-opened the vast majority of its estate, approximately 95%, after the first lockdown ended.

“The remaining sites have been under review on a case-by-case basis since, taking into account factors such as expected footfall and business layout.

“We have taken the difficult decision not to reopen some of these sites and are working with leaseholders on next steps.”