Greene King opens 50th Hive Pub
The Robert Kett in Wymondham, Norfolk, welcomed customers back after a £485,000 investment by Greene King with operators Daniel and Daryl Seamons at the helm.
Previously, the couple ran a social club before taking on The Robert Kett and will be operating the pub with their youngest of three daughters, Emily, who will be working front of house alongside them.
As a Hive site, the pub, which is fittingly celebrating its 50th birthday this year, features a fully upgraded bar and refreshed décor throughout, as well as a fully refurbished outside trading space ready for full year-round use.
Signature dishes
In line with the Hive offering, the Robert Kett, named after Wymondham’s most famous resident who led the Norfolk rising of 1549 against Edward VI, will serve a series of signature dishes as well as Hive specific offers such as Pizza and Moretti Wednesdays and a steak dinner for two offer on Thursdays.
Greene King Pub Partners’ Hive Pubs franchise offer first launched in late 2021, meaning the Hive Pubs franchise concept has grown to 50 pubs in less than three years.
A Hive Pubs franchise agreement offers licensees a ready-to-trade pub within a proven branded concept for just £5,000 ingoing cost.
Franchisees can expect a minimum guaranteed income of £20,000 and they also get a percentage of food and drink sales plus a share of the profits in their pub and can earn a bonus as well.
Analysis of figures by The Morning Advertiser revealed as of October 2023, Greene King had invested more than £15m into the Hive Pubs model since inception.
Continued growth
Earlier this year, Greene King Pub Partners announced the launch of its second franchise concept, Nest Pubs, a more wet-led franchise pub offer, the first site of which launched last month.
Greene King Pub Partners managing director Dan Robinson said: “We’re incredibly pleased to hit the 50 Hive Pubs mark.
“The momentum we have behind our franchise pub offer remains and through Hive Pubs and our newest franchise pub concept, Nest Pubs, we’ll continue to open sites in 2024 and beyond.
“At our heart we still remain a leased and tenanted business and this will not change, but we are excited to continue the growth of our franchise pub offer.”
