Heineken UK is making its largest ever annual investment in Star Pubs & Bars, investing £44m (US$58.4) during 2018. This investment is more than double the figure invested last year of £20m (US$ 26.6) and brings Heineken’s total expenditure on pubs to almost £140m (US$ 185.9m) over the past five years.
Heineken bought in January last year 1,900 pubs from Punch Taverns in the UK (inside.beer, 5.1.2017), making the Dutch brewer owner of UK’s third-largest pub group after Greene King and Enterprise Inns.
“Around a quarter of Star’s 2,900 pubs will benefit from the investment program, which includes 140 major capex projects with an average spend of £170,000 (US$ 226,000 per site. The investments are tailored to ensure each pubs’ proposition is relevant to the community where it’s based, including offering excellent food, superior service and an enjoyable environment. This investment will also create 1,000 new jobs, demonstrating the significant contribution pubs make to the UK economy,” said Heineken UK in a press release
David Forde, UK Managing Director of Heineken, said: “We are passionate supporters of the Great British Pub and believe that well-invested pubs run by skilled and motivated operators will continue to prosper. We believe that our commitment to investment, and understanding of consumer trends, will help our licensees’ businesses to keep growing and ensure that the Great British Pub remains at the heart of British life for generations to come.”
Secretary of State for Business, Greg Clark MP, said: “From pop-up breweries to historic watering holes, pubs are at the heart of communities and play a vital role in local economies. This record investment by Heineken and their creation of 1,000 new British jobs is another significant vote of confidence in the UK economy.”
John Longden OBE, Pub is The Hub, commented: “Pubs are increasingly being recognised as a force for good and important social hubs for communities, driving local economies and supporting local employment. Many communities are lacking investment so Heineken’s ongoing commitment to revive and refurbish their pubs in order to deliver the services, activities and the jobs communities need, is very good news for everyone.”