Mitchells & Butlers axes 1,300 jobs

The group, which operates around 1,700 pubs and restaurants across the UK and and has around 44,000 employees, announced the cuts as it reported a pre-tax loss of £123m for the year to 26 September, compared to a profit of £177m a year ago.

Earlier this month it was reported that Mitchells & Butlers, which also runs the Toby Carvery and O’Neill’s chains, is to close up to 20 of its UK pub and restaurant locations​​.

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

“Throughout a very uncertain and challenging year our businesses and teams have adapted quickly, creating a safe environment for guests and putting us in a strong position to benefit when consumers are able to eat out again,” said CEO Phil Urban.

 “We saw direct evidence of this from a strong trading period in July and August before further restrictions came into force.

“With our great estate, balanced portfolio of brands and proven management team, we remain optimistic that we will be able to regain the momentum previously built and continue to achieve sustained market outperformance, when the current operating restrictions are eased.”