May 6th 2024.
Heineken, the popular Dutch brewing company, has announced some exciting news for pub-goers in the UK. After investing a whopping £39 million into their Star Pubs chain, they will be re-opening 62 pubs across the country this year. This is a much-needed boost for the hospitality industry, which has been struggling in recent years due to closures caused by the pandemic and rising inflation.
According to City AM, the UK lost an average of 32 pubs per month in 2022. However, thanks to the injection of cash from Heineken, Star Pubs is on track to have the lowest number of closed pubs since 2019. In fact, more than 600 pubs - a quarter of the chain's 2,400 establishments - will receive a makeover to their interior, toilets, and gardens. This includes 62 "long-term closed locals", which is great news for the communities who have been missing their beloved neighborhood pubs.
The company estimates that these renovations will create 1,075 new jobs. They have also shared a map highlighting the locations of 12 of the 62 pubs set to re-open this year. Lawson Mountstevens, the managing director of Star Pubs, expressed his excitement about the re-openings, stating that people are looking for not just good food and drinks, but also activities like sports screenings and entertainment when they go out. He believes that by creating fantastic pubs that can cater to a variety of occasions, they can fulfill their role as important gathering places for communities.
The list of pubs set to re-open this year includes two that have already opened this month - The Cherry Tree in Witham, Essex and The Crown & Anchor in Aveley, Essex. The Cherry Tree, which dates back to the early 1900s, underwent a £180,000 upgrade and is now a family-friendly community village pub. The Crown & Anchor, which was closed for a year, has been transformed into a sports and entertainment bar after a £244,000 renovation.
Another highly-anticipated re-opening is The Wildmoor Oak gastro pub near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire. This pub, located just south of Birmingham, has been closed for 18 months but will be revived later this month after a £513,000 revamp. Mountstevens praised the enduring appeal of pubs and credited the hard work and entrepreneurship of the licensees for the success of Star Pubs. He also emphasized the importance of continued investment in keeping these beloved establishments open and thriving.
The list of Star Pubs set for re-launch also includes The Black Bull in Ecclesfield, Sheffield; The Hesketh Tavern in Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Stockport; The Junction in Wombwell, South Yorkshire; The Manvers Arms in Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire; The Punch Bowl in West Hallam, Derbyshire; The Rose of Denmark in Bristol; Roxy's Steak & Tap in Twickenham; The Talbot in Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire; and The Winterton Arms in Chiddingfold, Surrey. Mountstevens reiterated the importance of government support in reducing the heavy tax burden on pubs, which are not only important to the economy but also to the communities they serve. With Heineken's continued investment, well-run pubs with dedicated licensees are here to stay.
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