Joe’s, named after the University’s clock tower, will continue to be run and managed by the Guild of Students, with the partnership providing access to the business model implemented by JDW at its pubs across the UK.
Set to open in Easter 2026, following an extensive refurbishment, the new-look Joe’s will offer an enhanced food and drinks menu for students at affordable prices, including JDW’s weekly club deals, such as the Thursday Curry Club.
The revamp will also create more student jobs, with staff working in the bar continuing to be employed and manged by the Guild of Students.
JDW chief executive John Hutson said: “We are delighted to have entered into the partnership with the Guild of Students and look forward to working with it to make Joe’s Bar a great success”.
Vibrant future
The University of Birmingham Guild of Students President, Antonia Listrat added: “This partnership will strengthen our commercial endeavours to support a vibrant future for the Guild and enhance the overall student experience.”
JDW founder and chairman Tim Martin also met with the Leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch MP, and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mel Stride MP, this week to highlight the importance of pubs and their role within communities.
The meeting, which took place at the Metropolitan Bar in London’s West End, was arranged by the Conservative Party.
Martin said he stressed the pressure currently faced by pubs: “I pointed out that pubs are overtaxed relative to supermarkets and that they should be on an equal footing.
“Pubs pay 20% VAT on food sales versus nothing for supermarkets, who can, in effect, lower beer prices with this tax advantage.
Centre of communities
“I also highlighted that pubs pay about 25p a pint on business rates versus about 2p for supermarkets.
“As a consequence, the pricing differential between pubs and supermarkets has widened enormously in recent decades, contributing to dereliction in high streets and town centres.”
The chairman added if this cycle continued it would eventually “erode jobs in the pub industry”.
Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Mel Stride added: “Pubs are at the centre of communities, and they need a Government that’s firmly on their side.
“A future Conservative Government will back business, back jobs and back our pubs. Labour’s tax hikes are draining confidence and choking opportunity – we will restore it.
“Britain succeeds when business can invest, grow and hire, and that’s the future we will deliver.”
