Restaurants could be slashed for more budget hotel rooms

A RESTAURANT in Poole could be shut down to make way for new rooms for a neighbouring hotel.

Holes Bay Table Table in Poole is one of 112 sites that is under consultation to be turned into more rooms for neighbouring hotel, Premier Inn.

Owner of the budget hotel chain, Whitbread, revealed that around 1,500 jobs across the UK could be slashed across its 200 restaurants in favour of more hotel rooms.

It has been confirmed that the Poole restaurant is part of the proposals which are currently under consultation.

The outcome of Holes Bay Table Table is expected to be announced this week.

The move is part of plans to “optimise” the group’s food and drink offering by adding more than 3,500 hotel rooms across the venues.

Chief executive Dominic Paul previously said: “We recognise that our transition will impact some of our team members so we will be providing support throughout this process and we are committed to working hard to enable as many as possible of those affected to remain with us.”

It was reported that the company experienced a growth in profit in the past year however its restaurants and pubs division lagged behind.

Whitbread said the cost-cutting programme will save about £150 million over the next three years.

The Daily Echo asked whether other Dorset sites will be effected, but did not receive a response at time of publication.