Holding(s) in Company

Whitbread PLC
04 January 2007




LETTER TO: Whitbread Plc
DATED:     04 January 2007



UK COMPANIES ACT 1985 - SECTIONS 198-203 - Whitbread Plc (the 'Company')

This notification relates to issued ordinary shares in the capital of the
Company ('shares') and is given in fulfilment of the obligations imposed by
sections 198-203 of the Companies Act 1985 (the 'Act').

We hereby notify you that as at close of business on 2 January 2007, The
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. ('GS Inc') of 85 Broad Street, New York, NY
10004, USA, was interested, by attribution only, in a total 21,954,840 shares.


Of these 21,954,840 shares:

•   The interest in 12,914,608 shares arose from a beneficial interest held by
    Goldman Sachs International, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of GS Inc. 
    These shares are, or will be, registered in CREST in account CREPTEMP.

•   The interest in 4,603,030 shares arose from an interest held by Goldman
    Sachs & Co., a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of GS Inc, acting as 
    custodian for its customers. These shares are, or will be, registered 
    in the name of Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees), Limited.

•   The interest in 8,160 shares arose from an interest held by Goldman
    Sachs International, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of GS Inc, acting 
    as discretionary managers. These shares are, or will be, registered 
    in the name of Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees), Limited.

•   The interest in 4,429,042 shares arose from an interest held by subsidiaries
    of GS Inc, acting as discretionary managers. These shares are, or will be, 
    registered in the name of Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees), Limited.




LETTER FROM:  Peter Highton
              for and on behalf of 
              The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.




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