Holding in Company

Whitbread PLC
25 May 2001


LETTER TO WHITBREAD PLC

Companies Act 1985 - Disclosure of Interest In Shares

Consequent upon a sale in the market of 50,000 shares on the 21 May 2001, we now
hold the following number of shares which are not subject to a concert party and
will be registered as follows:

     Material Interest                         

     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 886603     990,692
     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 775245   1,560,396
     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 754612     120,007
     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 766793       3,000
     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 252605     183,946
     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 360509     167,235
     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 357206   5,601,578
     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 866203     219,600
     HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Ltd A/c 770286      13,200
                                                       ---------  ------
                                                       8,859,654  2.99%
                                                       =========  ======

Please note that this percentage is based on our understanding that your issued
share capital is 295,552,000.

FROM LEGAL & GENERAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT