Transaction in Own Shares

Whitbread PLC
09 January 2008


                                 Whitbread PLC

                             Purchase of Own Shares

Whitbread PLC announces that on 09 January 2008 it purchased 400,000 of its 76
122/153p ordinary shares at a price of 1144.1p per share. Whitbread PLC
purchased these shares via Hoare Govett Limited's affiliate, ABN AMRO Bank N.V.,
London Branch.

The shares purchased will be held as treasury shares. Following the above
purchase, Whitbread PLC holds 15,533,806 shares in treasury.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) is
177,934,786.




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