The name Beefeater means two completely different things depending on who you ask. Ask a bartender and they will reach for a bottle of London Dry Gin. Ask someone in the UK and they might picture a family steakhouse on the high street. These are two entirely separate businesses — a famous British gin and a beloved restaurant chain — that happen to share the same iconic name, both inspired by the Yeomen Warders who guard the Tower of London. And in 2026, both brands are making headlines for very different reasons.
Here is the complete, verified ownership story of both — explained clearly and simply.
What Is Beefeater Gin?
Beefeater Gin is an iconic London Dry Gin brand established in the 19th century by pharmacist James Burrough and currently owned by multinational drinks company Pernod Ricard.
It is one of the most recognizable gin brands in the world — still made in London, still using a recipe built on nine botanicals including juniper, coriander seeds, liquorice, orris root, Seville orange peel, and lemon peel, and still distilled at the same Kennington site it has called home since 1958. Beefeater sold 3.3 million cases globally in fiscal year 2024/25, making it one of Pernod Ricard’s top-performing international brands.
What Is Beefeater Restaurant?
Beefeater is a chain of pub restaurants in the United Kingdom, founded in 1974, owned by hotel and hospitality company Whitbread — the same group behind the Premier Inn hotel chain. Known for its grilled steaks, burgers, hand-battered fish and chips, and family-friendly atmosphere, Beefeater restaurants were a staple of British dining for over 50 years.
However, in a bombshell announcement in April 2026, Whitbread confirmed that all 106 remaining Beefeater restaurants in the UK will permanently close on September 10, 2026 — ending a chapter in British hospitality history.
Who Owns Beefeater Gin?
Beefeater Gin is owned by Pernod Ricard — the French multinational spirits giant headquartered in Paris, France. Pernod Ricard acquired Beefeater Dry Gin in 2005, and a programme of reinvestment in the brand began immediately.
Pernod Ricard is the world’s second-largest wine and spirits company and is publicly traded on the Euronext Paris stock exchange. The Ricard family — descendants of founder Paul Ricard — retains approximately 14–15% of Pernod Ricard’s capital and around 20–21% of voting rights through a loyalty voting mechanism. Institutional investors collectively hold approximately 70–75% of Pernod Ricard’s capital.
Who Owns Beefeater Restaurant?
Beefeater restaurant chain is owned by Whitbread PLC — a British hospitality company listed on the London Stock Exchange and headquartered in Dunstable, England. Whitbread is best known today for operating the Premier Inn hotel chain, which is the largest hotel brand in the UK by room count.
Whitbread originally bought Beefeater Gin in 1987 — but later sold the gin brand to Pernod Ricard in 2005. The restaurant chain, however, remained with Whitbread. So for nearly two decades, Whitbread owned both the gin and the restaurant, but today owns only the restaurant chain — at least until September 10, 2026, when the last Beefeater restaurant closes for good.
Beefeater Ownership Table
| Entity | Owner | Type | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beefeater Gin | Pernod Ricard | Global spirits conglomerate | Acquired in 2005; made at Kennington distillery, London |
| Beefeater Restaurant Chain | Whitbread PLC | UK hospitality company | Founded 1974; all 106 restaurants closing September 10, 2026 |
| Ricard Family | Largest individual shareholder of Pernod Ricard | Founding family | ~14–15% equity, ~20–21% voting rights in Pernod Ricard |
| Institutional Investors | Shareholders of Pernod Ricard | Fund managers | Collectively hold ~70–75% of Pernod Ricard’s capital |
| James Burrough Ltd | Original gin manufacturer (historical) | Founding family company | Family retained ownership until 1987 when Whitbread bought the gin |
| Whitbread (historical gin ownership) | Former gin owner 1987–2005 | UK hospitality group | Sold gin to Pernod Ricard in 2005; kept restaurant chain |
The Origin of Beefeater Gin: A Pharmacist and a £400 Distillery
James Burrough, the man who purchased the distillery in 1863 that would go on to become the first home of Beefeater Gin, was born in Devon. He fashioned a career as a pharmacist, which led him to Toronto, Canada. Burrough returned to London and purchased the Chelsea Distillery for £400. He produced liqueurs, fruit gins, and punches. He counted the prestigious Fortnum & Mason among his customers.
By experimenting with different combinations of botanicals, Burrough developed a bold, full-flavoured gin unlike anything else on the market — and named it Beefeater, after the Yeomen Warders of the Tower of London. By the early 1960s, Beefeater accounted for three-quarters of all gins imported into the United States — a staggering market dominance that cemented its reputation as the definitive London Dry Gin.
Beefeater leaves the Burrough’s family after almost 100 years and is sold to Whitbread in 1987. Then in 2005, Beefeater Dry Gin is acquired by Pernod Ricard and a programme of reinvestment in the brand begins. Under Pernod Ricard, the brand launched Beefeater 24, Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve, Beefeater Pink Gin, Beefeater Blood Orange, and most recently Beefeater 0.0% — an alcohol-free version that Pernod Ricard’s own data shows is attracting 75% new customers to the brand.
The Breaking News: Beefeater Restaurant Closing All 106 Sites in 2026
This is the biggest Beefeater story of 2026 — and it involves the restaurant chain, not the gin.
In April 2026, Whitbread announced the closure of all 197 remaining restaurants, including all Beefeater, Brewers Fayre, and Bar + Block sites, with the loss of around 3,800 jobs.
All 106 Beefeater restaurants across the UK will close on 10 September 2026. The Beefeater Reward Club will close on 31 August. Whitbread is exiting its branded restaurants division as part of a five-year plan to drive £250 million in cost efficiencies.
Whitbread CEO Dominic Paul said: “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.”
Many Beefeater restaurant sites will be converted into additional Premier Inn hotel rooms — a more profitable use of the same real estate. Whitbread plans to increase the number of hotel rooms it has open to 96,000 by the 2031 financial year, from the current total of about 86,600.
The closure has caused significant public reaction. Data from Google Trends revealed that online searches for “Beefeater UK restaurant shutdown” surged by 5,000% following the announcement — showing the emotional attachment millions of British families had to the brand.
Pernod Ricard: The Giant Behind Beefeater Gin
Pernod Ricard is not just the owner of Beefeater Gin — it is one of the most powerful spirits companies on earth. Pernod Ricard owns 17 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands and holds one of the most prestigious portfolios in the industry with over 240 premium brands distributed across more than 160 markets. Other brands in its portfolio include Absolut Vodka, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, The Glenlivet, Havana Club, Malibu, and Perrier-Jouët Champagne.
Pernod Ricard is currently in early talks that could unite it with Brown-Forman — parent company of Jack Daniel’s — in what would be one of the biggest mergers in spirits industry history. If that deal goes through, Pernod Ricard — and therefore Beefeater Gin — would sit inside the largest spirits company on the planet.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Beefeater Gin in 2026?
Beefeater Gin is owned by Pernod Ricard, the French multinational spirits company, which acquired the brand in 2005.
Q2. Who owns Beefeater restaurant chain?
Beefeater restaurants are owned by Whitbread PLC — the British hospitality company that also owns Premier Inn hotels.
Q3. Are Beefeater Gin and Beefeater Restaurant the same company?
No. They share the same name but are completely separate businesses owned by two different companies — Pernod Ricard (gin) and Whitbread (restaurants).
Q4. Who originally created Beefeater Gin?
Beefeater Gin was created by pharmacist James Burrough, who purchased the Chelsea Distillery in London for £400 and developed the recipe in the 1860s.
Q5. When did Whitbread sell Beefeater Gin to Pernod Ricard?
Whitbread sold Beefeater Gin to Pernod Ricard in 2005 while retaining ownership of the Beefeater restaurant chain separately.
Q6. Is Beefeater restaurant closing down?
Yes. Whitbread confirmed all 106 Beefeater restaurants in the UK will permanently close on 10 September 2026, affecting approximately 3,800 jobs.
Q7. Who are the biggest shareholders of Pernod Ricard?
The Ricard family holds ~14–15% equity with ~20–21% voting rights, while institutional investors collectively hold approximately 70–75% of the company’s capital.
Q8. Is Pernod Ricard merging with Jack Daniel’s parent company?
Yes — in March 2026, reports emerged that Pernod Ricard is in early talks for a potential merger or acquisition of Brown-Forman, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s.
There are two Beefeater brands — and they have had two very different 2026 stories.
Beefeater Gin is owned by Pernod Ricard, the French spirits giant, which acquired it in 2005. Pernod Ricard is publicly traded in Paris, controlled in part by the Ricard family (~14–15% equity, ~20–21% voting rights), and is currently in talks about a potential mega-merger with Jack Daniel’s parent Brown-Forman. The gin itself continues to be made in London, sells 3.3 million cases annually, and recently launched an alcohol-free version.
Beefeater Restaurant is owned by Whitbread PLC, the British hospitality group behind Premier Inn hotels. The chain was founded in 1974, once operated over 140 locations, and is now closing all 106 remaining restaurants permanently on September 10, 2026 — ending over 50 years of British dining history.