Some 25% (608) of Star Pubs’ 2,400 sites will benefit from enhancements during the year, with 104 of these earmarked for transformational revamps costing £120,000-plus.
The investment equates to around £65,789 per venue.
Having spent £9.5m in 2024 reopening 62 long-term closed pubs, the company claimed it now has the lowest level of closures since 2019. Additionally, works are either completed or under way to reopen 10 pubs so far this year.
Although trading conditions have been tough over recent years, Heineken said it has invested consistently, pumping £194m into improving its pubs between the start of 2020 and the end of 2024.
Meanwhile, Star Pubs licensees have invested an estimated £2m into the schemes that are being carried out this year.
Consistent investment
Some 97% of Star Pubs sites are in rural and suburban locations and the investment programme will reflect this by concentrating on “community locals”.
Energy efficiency measures will be included in renovations to increase each pub’s sustainability while it is claimed every project will be sympathetic to the building and its history, retaining and preserving original features.
Star Pubs managing director Lawson Mountstevens said: “Consistent investment – rather than a stop, start approach – and a strategy of creating great locals have been key to helping our pubs weather the storms of the last few years.
“Heineken sees first hand the value in great British pubs and their ongoing popularity. It recognises Brits love their locals and that well-invested pubs trade better. This £40m inward investment from a Dutch business into UK pubs is a resounding vote of confidence in the future of the sector.
“Even with pressures on disposable income, people are still prioritising a trip to their local.
Lifeblood of communities
“The vast majority of our pubs are leased by independent operators who run them as their own. In partnership with our licensees, our investment programme keeps alive the great British tradition of individual locals, each with its own unique feel and serving the particular needs of its community.”
Star Pubs licensees employ about 25,000 people, support thousands of local suppliers and raise millions of pounds for charity, Mountstevens said.
He added: “Pubs are the lifeblood of their communities and growth engines for the UK economy, however, they are being penalised by a disproportionate tax burden. We urge the Government to rectify this distortion when proposals to overhaul business rates are drawn up this year.”
Some of the pubs that have enjoyed renovations include:
The Six Bells, Littlehampton, West Sussex
Closed three and a half years ago due to the retirement of the previous licensees, the Six Bells in Littlehampton remained vacant until a joint £425,000 investment by Star Pubs and new licensees Emma Aylward and Jules Verhulpen reopened the pub at the end of April. 10 jobs were created. The old coaching inn, a listed building dating back to 1732, has been transformed into a high-quality, family-friendly country pub catering for the whole community. The new layout includes a spacious bar with a snug, a dining area, and a private dining room as well as a separate function room with its own bar and patio access. Outside, the garden and courtyard have been completely overhauled, and there is seating for 50 people.
The Roseycombe, Binley Woods, near Coventry
A £350,000 refurbishment by Star Pubs and Midlands-based Roseacre Pub Company fully reopened the Roseycombe in January with a carvery and extensive menu resulting in 25 new jobs. The pub – which closed in February 2024 - is the multiple operator’s seventh site with Star Pubs. Funds were spent modernising the Roseycombe to create a superb local with a stunning secluded garden. The best in the vicinity, it is kitted out with five elegant eight-seater dining booths, an outside bar and a stylish patio plus a large lawn for family fun days and live music. The internal revamp gave the pub a beautiful new design, refitted the kitchen and converted a disused conservatory into a dining area, bookable for private functions.
The Schooner, Amble, Northumberland
A £420,000 investment by Star Pubs and local pub operator, Robbie Morgan, reopened the Schooner in Amble this April following a three-year closure, leading to 16 new jobs. The Schooner has been reinvented as a stylish family and dog friendly gastro pub with ensuite bedrooms, which will be upgraded by Robbie in the coming months to make the most of the pub’s location on the picturesque Northumberland coast. The interior has been reconfigured to offer a locals’ bar and a main bar / dining lounge ensuring The Schooner attracts residents and visitors alike. A commercial kitchen has been installed to broaden the food offer. The exterior makeover added seating for 48 people on the front terrace and developed one of the most spacious beer gardens in the area.