Heineken invests £40 million into its Star Pubs division
Heineken has invested approximately £40m into upgrading and reopening 608 pubs within its Star Pubs division. The post Heineken invests £40 million into its Star Pubs division appeared first on The Drinks Business.
Heineken has invested approximately £40m into upgrading and reopening 608 pubs within its Star Pubs division.
The investment, which will also fund the creation of nearly 1,000 new jobs, will focus on community locals in rural and suburban locations.
The move, which will see 25% (608) of Heineken UK’s 2,400 pubs benefiting from the funding during the year, also sees 104 of these earmarked for revamps in the region of more than £120,000.
Speaking to the drinks business, Star Pubs' managing director Lawson Mountstevens said: “In general, good quality suburban and high street pubs – which make up the majority of our estate – are thriving and welcoming more customers than ever. It is both our and our licensees’ belief that whatever temporary uncertainties come along, UK consumers will continue to want the simple pleasure of socialising in a pub.”
Having spent £9.5m in 2024 reopening 62 long-term closed pubs, the company now has the lowest level of closures since 2019.
Although trading conditions have been tough for British pubs over recent years, Mountstevens highlighted how the company has invested consistently throughout, pumping £194m into improving its pubs between the start of 2020 and the end of 2024.
He additionally noted how Star Pubs licensees are also confident in the future of the pub market, investing an estimated additional £2m in the schemes being carried out this year.
Describing his view on the pub landscape and its challenges, Mountstevens insisted that “high-quality pubs run by skilled and motivated operators, backed by transformative investment, will continue to prosper long term”.
97% of Heineken’s pubs are in rural and suburban locations and its 2025 investment programme will reflect this, concentrating on community locals.
To bring each of them up to date, energy efficiency measures will be included in the refurbishments to increase each pub’s sustainability footprint and the company has assured that “every project will be sympathetic to the building and its history, retaining and preserving original features”.
According to Mountstevens: “Previous economic downturns when customers’ disposable income is squeezed, reveal that people look for an exceptional experience when they go out. A great ambience and attractive surroundings are key and contribute to the value for money that pubgoers seek.”
Mountstevens told db: “It’s more important than ever to invest during uncertain times like these, to keep pubs thriving and meeting the needs of their communities.”
Earlier this year, Heineken was identified as the leading drinks supplier to British pubs and bars, according to the Advantage Report Voice of the Customer, showing that it was significantly outperforming its competitors such as Stonegate, Greene King, Fuller Smith & Turner and Admiral Taverns.
The investment, which will also fund the creation of nearly 1,000 new jobs, will focus on community locals in rural and suburban locations.
The move, which will see 25% (608) of Heineken UK’s 2,400 pubs benefiting from the funding during the year, also sees 104 of these earmarked for revamps in the region of more than £120,000.
Speaking to the drinks business, Star Pubs' managing director Lawson Mountstevens said: “In general, good quality suburban and high street pubs – which make up the majority of our estate – are thriving and welcoming more customers than ever. It is both our and our licensees’ belief that whatever temporary uncertainties come along, UK consumers will continue to want the simple pleasure of socialising in a pub.”
Having spent £9.5m in 2024 reopening 62 long-term closed pubs, the company now has the lowest level of closures since 2019.
Although trading conditions have been tough for British pubs over recent years, Mountstevens highlighted how the company has invested consistently throughout, pumping £194m into improving its pubs between the start of 2020 and the end of 2024.
He additionally noted how Star Pubs licensees are also confident in the future of the pub market, investing an estimated additional £2m in the schemes being carried out this year.
Describing his view on the pub landscape and its challenges, Mountstevens insisted that “high-quality pubs run by skilled and motivated operators, backed by transformative investment, will continue to prosper long term”.
97% of Heineken’s pubs are in rural and suburban locations and its 2025 investment programme will reflect this, concentrating on community locals.
To bring each of them up to date, energy efficiency measures will be included in the refurbishments to increase each pub’s sustainability footprint and the company has assured that “every project will be sympathetic to the building and its history, retaining and preserving original features”.
According to Mountstevens: “Previous economic downturns when customers’ disposable income is squeezed, reveal that people look for an exceptional experience when they go out. A great ambience and attractive surroundings are key and contribute to the value for money that pubgoers seek.”
Mountstevens told db: “It’s more important than ever to invest during uncertain times like these, to keep pubs thriving and meeting the needs of their communities.”
Earlier this year, Heineken was identified as the leading drinks supplier to British pubs and bars, according to the Advantage Report Voice of the Customer, showing that it was significantly outperforming its competitors such as Stonegate, Greene King, Fuller Smith & Turner and Admiral Taverns. 
