Trading Statement

Whitbread PLC
16 January 2001


Christmas and New Year Trading Statement

In the five weeks to January 6, 2001, like-for-like sales
for the future Whitbread divisions were up by 5.6% - namely
Hotels by 12.9%, Restaurants by 2.7%, and Sports, Health and
Fitness by 27.8%.  Pubs and Bars like-for-like sales were up
by 3.5%.

The performance of each of the major businesses was as
follows:


                              Like-for-like sales % increase
                              for the period ending January
                              6, 2001 vs the comparable
                              period to January 8, 2000

                                   5 weeks        44 weeks

Marriott                           13.9           9.1
Travel Inn (Hotel Company)         4.8            6.2
Beefeater *                        4.7            0.5
Brewers Fayre*                     4.4            3.5
Sports, Health and Fitness         27.8           9.8
Future Whitbread divisions         5.6            3.7
(* including adjacent Travel Inns)

Pubs Inn Line                      3.1            (0.1)
High Street Bars                   4.3            1.8
Pub Partnerships                   4.0            0.7
Pubs and Bars                      3.5            0.4

The Christmas and New Year performance enables the board to
reaffirm the statement made in the Listing Particulars
published on January 5 that since the half year end, trading
has been satisfactory in the context of market conditions.

David Thomas, Chief Executive said: 'This was a good
Christmas trading period for the major future Whitbread
brands and Pubs and Bars.  I am pleased to report that the
sale process for the Pubs and Bars Division is on schedule
and progressing well.'


Please contact:

David Reed      020 7615 1324
Jeremy Probert  020 7615 1445