The rise comes against a backdrop of continued cost inflation and ongoing pub closures in parts of the L&T market.
The company said prospective licensees are now taking more time to research leased and tenanted opportunities, with a growing focus on understanding pub financials themselves rather than relying on accountants.
The figures follow a year of strong multi site expansion across Star’s estate, with independent operators taking on second, third and even tenth pubs under the group’s leased model.
Digital tools
Almost 60% of applicants now find vacancies online, a 15% increase over three years.
In response, Star has expanded its digital recruitment tools and overhauled its introductory training.
The introduction course, valued at £1000, has been reduced from five days to three and the cost cut by a third to £300 excluding VAT. Star said the change is designed to lower financial barriers for new entrants at a time when operators are already facing higher wage, energy and food costs.
The content now focuses on building robust business plans, with greater emphasis on areas where costs have risen sharply, including staffing.
The group will also run 10 free virtual events this year covering the L&T model and agreement types, hosted by an operations director with a live Q&A.
Additional online resources, including operator case studies and drone footage on vacancy listings, will support applicants during the research phase.
‘Industry needs to adapt’
Star Pubs head of attraction Hance McPherson said changing applicant behaviour required the industry to adapt.
He said: “The economic uncertainty of the last few years hasn’t dented enthusiasm for running a pub, but combined with the move to seek knowledge online, has profoundly changed the way would be licensees research taking on a pub. The industry needs to adapt to these long-term trends in order to meet their wants and needs.”
He added that a longer decision-making phase was helping to improve business planning standards across the pipeline.
“It’s always been vital to understand the economics of running a pub and how to drive sales, but it’s more essential than ever now. Bringing this to the forefront of our introductory training and educating potential recruits early in their journey enables them to engage confidently and knowledgeably with their accountants.”
McPherson said the group hoped the Government’s announcement on business rates support would further strengthen interest in pub opportunities over the coming months.
The news follow’s last month’s announcement that Star Pubs plans to expand its managed Just Add Talent (JAT) estate with the rollout of 35 new sites in 2026, taking the number of JAT sites within the Heineken-owned pubco’s portfolio to more than 250 by the end of the year.
