Jobs at a restaurant chain which has locations in Suffolk are under threat after its owner announced a series of cutbacks to focus on its hotel business.

Whitbread, which owns Premier Inn, Brewers Fayre and Beefeater, has revealed it will axe about 1,500 jobs across the UK amid plans to slash its chain of branded restaurants by more than 200. 

The move will see 112 restaurants converted into hotel rooms as the group looks to “optimise” its food and drink offering. 

Brewers Fayre currently has one restaurant in Ipswich, while there are Beefeater restaurants in Ipswich and Lowestoft.

Whitbread said it plans to sell 126 of its less profitable branded restaurants, with 21 sales already having gone through.

The restaurants that have been earmarked for sale have not been revealed.

Dominic Paul, Whitbread chief executive, 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.”