star_pubs_&_bars
5 Star Pubs & Bars
Key personnel: Chris Jowsey, trading director; David Forde, Heineken UK MD
This has been a year of progress for the Heineken-owned leased-pub operator. The pubco has seen the number of licensees taking on substantive leases rise significantly, with its Business Start-up Agreement picking up an award from Business in the Community. It has also enhanced its tenant-support package, introducing new deals on Sky subscriptions, food partnerships, business rates, social media and mystery visit programmes. Heineken UK managing director David Forde has recently announced plans to spend £126m in the company’s UK businesses, including £18.5m on its pubs — the biggest capex programme the Star Pubs & Bars estate has ever received.
