Transaction in Own Shares

Whitbread PLC
18 January 2008


                                 Whitbread PLC

                             Purchase of Own Shares

Whitbread PLC announces that on 18 January 2008 it purchased 100,000 of its 76
122/153p ordinary shares at a price of 1162.52p 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 16,628,806 shares in treasury.

The total number of ordinary shares in issue (excluding treasury shares) is
176,858,202.




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