Trading Statement

Whitbread PLC
15 January 2002


15 January 2002

                                Whitbread PLC

                        Christmas and New Year Trading
      % increase  in like-for-like sales for the period ended January 5, 2002
                              (January 6, 2001)


                                                 5 weeks          44 weeks
Marriott  *                                        0.1              (0.4)
Travel Inn                                         3.8               3.7
Pub Restaurants                                    7.1               5.6
High Street Restaurants                            8.0               3.4
Sports, Health & Fitness                          10.8              16.1
Total                                              5.8               4.2

(* includes Swallow)


David Thomas, Chief Executive, said: 'Christmas is a key period for our
restaurant business so I'm particularly pleased by the strong trading in both
our pub restaurant brands and on the high street.


'Marriott has recovered well from the position immediately following September
11th, helped by the lesser dependence on American guests over the holiday.
Travel Inn maintained its year to-date like-for-like performance during
Christmas which is a quiet period for business travel.


'David Lloyd Leisure's like-for-like sales growth reflects the continuing
focus on new membership sales and continues in double digits despite an
exceptionally strong period last year.


'Total sales for continuing businesses were up 9.9% for the 44 weeks to
January 5, confirming that we are on track to meet expectations for the
current year.  I am pleased with the progress being made in sales.
Management's focus remains very firmly on driving better returns from our
shareholders' assets.


'Following the successful restructuring of the company, Christmas trading has
become less critical to our annual results.  Accordingly, this will be the
last trading statement specifically for this period.  In future, we will
publish trading statements as usual with our Results and prior to each close
season starting in September, 2002. '

                                    -end-


Contacts:-


David Reed                   020 7806 5436
Jeremy Probert             020 7806 5443
Dan Waugh                  020 7806 5442