Directorate Change

Whitbread PLC
09 December 2004


Embargoed until 7am on Thursday, 9th December 2004



                  Whitbread appoints finance director designate


Whitbread today announces the appointment of Christopher Rogers as finance
director designate.   He will succeed David Richardson on May 1st, 2005.  Mr
Rogers (44) is currently group finance director of the Woolworths Group PLC and
chairman of the Woolworths Group Entertainment Wholesale and Publishing
businesses.

After qualifying as an accountant with Price Waterhouse, Mr Rogers joined
Kingfisher PLC as group corporate finance manager in 1988.  Subsequent
appointments included group financial controller at Kingfisher PLC, finance
director of Comet Group plc and then four years as commercial director at Comet.

Alan Parker, Whitbread's chief executive, said: 'Chris played a lead role in the
demerger of the Woolworths Group from Kingfisher and has been an important part
of the team that has significantly improved the performance of the Woolworths
Group over the last three years.  His strong retail and commercial background
will enable him to make an immediate contribution at Whitbread as we continue to
develop our strategy to maximise shareholder value.'


                                     -end-


Please contact:

David Reed                     020          7806 5436
Dan Waugh                      020          7806 5442
Julie Weldon                   020          7806 5443




Note to Editors:

About Whitbread PLC

Whitbread PLC is the UK's leading hospitality business, managing the number one
brands in hotels, restaurants and racquets, health and fitness clubs, including
Premier Travel Inn, Marriott (UK), Brewers Fayre, Beefeater, Costa, T.G.I.
Friday's and David Lloyd Leisure, and a strategic investment in Pizza Hut (UK).

Our success is due to the 50,000 people we employ in our businesses and the
skill with which they serve the 10 million customers who each month visit our
1,400 outlets across the UK.

Whitbread's strategy is to create value for our shareholders by focusing on
growth in expanding sectors of the hospitality industry, primarily in the UK but
also in selected international markets. In the financial year to March 4, 2004,
Whitbread generated pre-tax, pre-exceptional profit of £240.8m on sales of more
than £1.8bn.

Founded in 1742, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (as WTB.L)
and is a member of the FTSE 100 and FTSE4Good indices.  Further information is
available from www.whitbread.co.uk.



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