The sites were subsequently sold to its biggest rival Mitchells & Butlers, and over the course of the following year, the pubs underwent rebranding to Harvester, Toby Carvery, and a variety of other brands.

In 2008, Whitbread sold 44 more Brewers Fayre & Beefeater sites to Mitchells and Butlers as they could not obtain planning permission for a Premier Inn (like The Lauriston Farm in Edinburgh).

[4] On 24 March 2024, Whitbread announced it has drafted in advisors Christie & Co to sell between 30 and 50 of its poorest-performing Beefeater and Brewers Fayre outlets to market rivals, such as Mitchells and Butlers and Greene King, most of which were situated next-door to Premier Inn hotels.

The closure process began in July 2024, starting with the de-branding of Beefeater and Brewers Fayre pubs that had Premier Inns attached.

This rebranding initiative aimed to distinguish a group of pubs that catered specifically to families, offering a more affordable alternative to Greene King's "Wacky Warehouse" brand.

While Brewsters shared similarities with Brewers Fayre in terms of its ambiance and food offerings, it placed a stronger emphasis on providing entertainment for children.

Each Brewsters pub featured a multi-level play area called the 'Fun Factory,' employed children's entertainers, and had ice-cream machines.

Over the next three years, an additional 30 outlets were established, notably many Brewsters locations which were previously Brewers Fayre sites that had Charlie Chalk Fun Factories.

The brand gained significant recognition and was frequently voted as "The Most Family Friendly Restaurant Chain in the Country" by baby charity Tommy's.

In July 2001, Brewsters launched a nationwide television campaign titled 'Break From The Old Routine,' which featured the Oui 3 song of the same name as its soundtrack.

This prompted Whitbread to return all restaurants to Brewers Fayre, in an effort to reverse the downturn; the process of which was complete by the end of 2005.

Starting in December 2007 with the Swansea Vale Brewers Fayre, six restaurants were converted to the Taybarns format and one was bought from a rival company.

Whitbread announced plans to convert more Brewers Fayre sites to the Taybarns brand during 2009 and 2010[6] but this never happened, partly due to their high cost.

The Stonebrook, The Cotton Mill Kilmarnock, Butterley Park Ripley was re-branded in November 2017 and new build sites in 2018 are open in Bridlington and Rhyl.

Despite the previous policy of disposals and rebranding of Brewers Fayres sites, the chain has seen a resurgence in popularity fueled by new menu offers such as two for £9 meal deals in late 2007, along with an option for two desserts for £2 in October 2009, and two starters for £2.50 in 2015.

[citation needed] In December 2009, The Papermill in High Wycombe was refurbished and hot counters were added in the restaurant to host theme nights on weekdays in addition to the main menu.

According to Whitbread, it was "benefiting from sales at its Brewers Fayre and Premier Inn chain" in a 2011 economy in which "domestic price pressures [are] near their highest levels in two decades".

[citation needed] In January 2011, Brewers Fayre opened its first new-build site in five years, Malt & Myre, at Lomondgate Drive, Dumbarton.

A few Brewers Fayre sites which did not become Brewsters also had Charlie Chalk Fun Factories which kept running until they were eventually sold in 2007 to other competitors such as Greene King's "Wacky Warehouse" brand and Mitchells & Butlers' "Fuzzy Ed's".

In 2013, along with a refurbishment in the Brewers Fayre brand launched a new themed children's menu with The Beano's Dennis the Menace as the new mascot, which was previously meant to feature Scooby-Doo.