History of Whitbread

Opened our 50th Premier Inn in Germany

We focused on our growth of Costa and Premier Inn in the UK and around the world.

First Premier Inn hotel opened in Germany, Frankfurt.

Sold David Lloyd Leisure, Marriott Hotels, TGI Fridays and Pizza Hut, and merged Travel Inn and Premier Lodge hotels.

Period of acquisitions including David Lloyd Leisure, Marriott Hotels, TGI Fridays, Pizza Hut and Premier Lodge hotels.

By the 1960’s Whitbread had spotted that the UK was developing a thirst for lager and in 1968 reached a deal to brew Heineken under licence. Within three years it had 20 per cent of the lager market.

King George III and Queen Charlotte paid a visit to Chiswell street and according to the newspapers of the day, the king was ‘wonderfully pleased’ with the innovative steam engine.

A modern man, Samuel Whitbread was a pioneer of new brewing techniques and in 1784 installed the first ever steam engine at the brewery, designed by famous engineer, James Watt.

Samuel Whitbread created the first purpose-built mass-production brewery in the UK, when he moved his brewing operations to Chiswell Street on the eastern rim of Georgian London. Over the following years, Whitbread became a household name throughout the country.

Samuel Whitbread went into partnership with Godfrey and Thomas Shewell on the 11th of December 1742.