Greene King’s Beehive Inn to undergo major refurbishment
The Beehive Inn, a landmark pub in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket operated by Greene King’s Belhaven Brewery, is set to undergo a significant refurbishment early next year as part of investment plans for the historic venue.
Located beneath Edinburgh Castle and trading for more than 400 years, the Old Town pub will temporarily close from 12 January to allow works to take place, with reopening scheduled for February.
The refurbishment will include a full refresh of the ground floor bar, alongside the creation of a new open-plan restaurant on the first floor, designed to enhance the pub’s food-led offer. A new whisky bar will also be introduced on the first floor, featuring more than 100 Scottish whiskies, curated tasting flights and hosted tastings.
The top floor will be reconfigured into a flexible, multi-purpose space capable of hosting the pub’s established comedy programme, as well as private dining, meetings and events. The investment has been designed to modernise the venue while retaining the character and heritage of the Category A listed building.
Belhaven’s business unit director David McBride said: “This investment marks the next chapter in the Beehive’s journey, and we’re looking forward to showcasing the new and improved pub and offering fantastic experiences, which will help to solidify its reputation as a premier destination for Scottish hospitality in the capital.”
Spotted Cow reopens in Bloxwich following £390k refurbishment
The Spotted Cow on Wolverhampton Road in Bloxwich has reopened following a refurbishment costing more than £390k.
The pub forms part of Proper Pubs, the community wet-led operator division of Admiral Taverns, which operates more than 220 sites across the UK.
The investment has delivered a full internal overhaul, including new flooring, furniture, fixtures and fittings throughout. A dedicated sports area has been introduced, featuring multiple large-format screens, a new pool table and two dart boards, positioning the pub firmly as a community-focused, sports-led local.
Externally, the site has been upgraded with new signage and lighting, alongside improvements to the beer garden, which now seats more than 100 guests. An outdoor television screen has also been installed, allowing live sport to be viewed from the garden.
Operator Zac Peate has confirmed plans for a regular programme of activity, including live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, quiz and bingo nights, and the formation of darts, pool and dominoes teams.
Community engagement is also a focus, with the operator planning foodbank collections, fundraising towards the installation of a defibrillator, and a programme of charity events supporting local and national causes.
Proper Pubs’ operations director Matt Gurney said: “I’m thrilled to see how well the refurbishment at the Spotted Cow has turned out and I am delighted that the opening night was a great success! This community pub has so much to offer and I’m confident that Zac will be able to unlock its full potential.”
NEOS to enter London with Tiger Tiger Haymarket acquisition
NEOS Hospitality has acquired the former Tiger Tiger site on Haymarket, securing its first London location and signalling a major expansion for the group. The West End property will undergo a multi-million pound redevelopment ahead of a planned opening in late summer 2026.
The deal follows more than a year of discussions with landlord Criterion Capital and will see the landmark building completely reworked into a new all-day hospitality destination. The scheme is designed to trade from daytime through to late night, reflecting changing patterns of demand in the West End.
NEOS CEO Russell Quelch said securing the Haymarket site represented a significant milestone for the business, marking its first step into the London market and a key part of its longer-term growth strategy.
The redevelopment will include a full interior overhaul, new layouts suited to all-day trading, and upgraded lighting and sound systems. The finished venue is expected to combine food and drink with late-night entertainment in a format aimed at delivering strong, sustained footfall.
Criterion Capital said the partnership aligns with its wider strategy to reinvigorate high-profile West End locations.
Further details on the concept are expected to be announced in early 2026.
Lane7 confirms three new sites as work set to start in early 2026
Competitive socialising operator Lane7 has confirmed plans to begin development on three new venues in the first quarter of 2026, as part of a wider expansion and operational restructure.
The group will start work simultaneously on new sites in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Leeds before the end of March 2026.
In Glasgow, Lane7 will open its first venue in the city centre, taking over the former Platform event space, complementing its existing Level X operation at St Enoch’s Centre. In Edinburgh, the group will add a second site at Ocean Terminal in Leith, alongside its established venue at St James Quarter, marking the city as Lane7’s fifth to host multiple locations.
Leeds represents a new market for the business, with a 23,000 sq ft venue planned in the city centre, marking Lane7’s first entry into Yorkshire.
Alongside the expansion, the Lane7 Group is consolidating its portfolio under a single administrative structure, bringing Lane7, Level X, ML7 and Gutterball together under one operational identity. The move is intended to simplify internal processes, strengthen the group’s financial model and support future site acquisition and development.
