A major shake-up of Whitbread's restaurant business will see Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites close their doors in Cumbria in the coming weeks.
The hospitality giant, which also owns Premier Inn, has confirmed that all 106 remaining Beefeater restaurants will cease trading across the UK on September 10, including the Border Gate site in Carlisle.
Founded in 1974, Beefeater once operated more than 250 restaurants nationwide and has been a familiar fixture on Britain's dining scene for more than five decades.
In a statement, a Beefeater spokesperson said: "On the 10th September, Beefeater is officially closing its doors across all locations.
"Since ’74, we've had the joy of serving up legendary steaks and grills, unbeatable deals, and countless family moments. We are so grateful to everyone who made our restaurants feel like a second home.
"We'd love to see you one last time before the 10th September. Join us for your favourite dish, enjoy a great meal together, and create one last amazing memory.
"Thank you for 50 iconic years."
Customers are also being warned that some menu items may be unavailable in the final days before closure.
Whitbread's Brewers Fayre restaurants are set to close first, with all remaining sites due to close on September 7.
A Brewers Fayre spokesperson said: "On the 7th September, Brewers Fayre will be officially closing its doors across all our locations.
"From quick mid-week dinners to decades of family celebrations, it has been an honour to serve communities across the UK. We are so grateful for everyone who made our restaurants feel like home."
In Cumbria, Brewers Fayre operates sites in Barrow-in-Furness, Whitehaven, Cockermouth and Carlisle.
The Barrow restaurant on North Road was recently put up for sale through estate agents Corrie and Co with an asking price of £450,000.
In Carlisle, the Brewers Fayre site at Walkmill Crescent was being marketed for £500,000.
The closures form part of a wider restructuring programme announced by Whitbread.
Around 3,800 roles are expected to be affected, although the company says it hopes to retain as many workers as possible.
Some former Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurants have already been converted to Whitbread's Thyme brand, while others are being sold or repurposed.
The changes are expected to affect roughly 12 per cent of Whitbread's 30,000-strong workforce across the UK and Ireland.
Earlier this year, Whitbread said a number of restaurant sites would be converted into additional Premier Inn rooms as part of the overhaul.
A spokesperson said:
"We recognise the impact of this proposal on colleagues who work at the affected sites.
"As a business which recruits around 15,000 people every year, we expect to be able to retain a significant proportion of those affected and will be looking to redeploy as many of our impacted colleagues as possible.
"However, we do anticipate that the proposed changes, which are subject to consultation, would result in a reduction of around 3,800 roles of a total UK and Ireland workforce of around 30,000.
"We will do all we can to support those colleagues affected."
One Cumbrian site may avoid closure altogether.
Whitbread has confirmed that The Howgate Brewers Fayre in Whitehaven is among 53 restaurant properties that it has conditionally agreed to sell to Queensway Inns, raising the prospect that it could continue operating after Brewers Fayre ceases to exist.
