The move will take the number of JAT sites within the Heineken-owned pubco’s portfolio to more than 250 by the end of the year.
First to benefit from the investment was the Earl of Beaconsfield pub in Cambridge, which reopened on Thursday 22 January following a £330,00 upgrade.
The pub, which had been closed for 15 months, boasts a refreshed courtyard garden seating 40 complete with a 26-capacity open garden room with a TV and a mural depicting the city’s famous Boat Race.
Inside, the Earl of Beaconsfield has been transformed with new décor and incorporates a bar and lounge.
Gap in the market
There’s also a games room, which has been kitted out with a new halo-lit darts board with electronic scoring and a new AV system showing Sky and TNT Sports.
As with other JAT sites, entertainment will be key to the offer, and the Earl of Beaconsfield will host regular karaoke and live acts.
Star Pubs operations director Mick Howard said: “Re-opening a closed pub and returning it to the community is a great way to start the year.
“Cambridge city centre has a wide range of hospitality venues but in the pub’s vicinity there’s a gap in the market for a premium wet led local with a great sports offer.
“Opening in January gives the Earl of Beaconsfield time to establish itself as a go-to place to watch the World Cup.
Fantastically popular
“The Just Add Talent managed model combines low-cost and low-risk with high support and earnings potential. It is proving fantastically popular, enabling us to double our talent bank pipeline and ensure we hit our 2026 expansion targets.”
In December, Star completed its largest JAT refurbishment of 2025, reopening the Horse & Jockey in Waddington following a £750k investment, taking its managed operator estate to 220 sites.
The scheme was the fourth major JAT project delivered by Star in the final quarter of 2025.
In total, Star added 32 new JAT pubs to its estate last year with an average investment of £255k per site, creating around 200 new jobs.
This exceeded its predictions from earlier in the year, where it announced plans to add 30 JAT sites.
