Special Dividend etc.

Restaurant Group PLC
07 February 2006

NOT FOR RELEASE, DISTRIBUTION OR PUBLICATION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO
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For immediate release



7 February 2006



The Restaurant Group plc

('The Restaurant Group' or the 'Company')



Proposed Special Dividend and Share Consolidation



•   Proposed return of value of approximately £35 million by means of a
special dividend of 16 pence per share (the 'Special Dividend')



•   8 for 9 share consolidation, to assist in maintaining comparability
of share price, earnings per share and dividend per share (the 'Share
Consolidation')



•   Subject to shareholder approval at an extraordinary general meeting
of the Company to be held on 23 February 2006



•   Dealings to commence in the proposed new shares of 28 1/8 pence each
in the capital of the Company resulting from the Share Consolidation at 8.00
a.m. on 27 February 2006



Commenting, Andrew Page, Chief Executive, said:



'Following the sale of the Caffe Uno business, which completed on 12 December
2005, I am pleased to announce the details of our proposed return of value of
approximately £35 million to shareholders.



The sale of the Caffe Uno business leaves The Restaurant Group focused on
businesses with higher quality earnings and cash flows.  Going forward, we are
well placed to continue to deliver good growth.'





Background to and reasons for the Special Dividend



On 23 November 2005, The Restaurant Group announced the disposal of its Caffe
Uno