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He added Star will continue its investment in pubs and renewed calls for business rates reform as the operator looks to build on a positive 2026.
Speaking to The Morning Advertiser, the Mountstevens said resilient consumer demand, strong summer trading and significant investment in pub gardens had helped drive performance across the estate.
“It’s been a good year so far,” Mountstevens said. “We’re really pleased in terms of where we are as we finish September and start October.”
He pointed to the success of outdoor trading as consumers continue to search out social experiences they are unable to replicate at home and said: “We spent a lot of time, this time last year, gearing up for investment in gardens and really focusing some of our investment in that area, and that’s definitely pulled through to the benefit of us and our operators.”
Mountstevens argued customers’ willingness to use outdoor areas has increased significantly since the pandemic with customers now happy to socialise outside even when outside the traditional summer months.
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Just Add Talent expansion
The Star boss also reaffirmed the company’s commitment to its Just Add Talent managed operator agreement model.
Star operates 2,120 leased & tenanted (L&T) pubs alongside 240 Just Add Talent (its managed operator agreement) venues. While stressing L&T remains the backbone of the business, Mountstevens revealed the company plans to continue growing the managed operator format.
“We’ll open 30 to 35 Just Add Talents a year. That’s our plan going forward.”
The model allows operators to take control of a pub with a relatively low financial commitment, with Star providing the retail framework, pricing, menus and wider proposition.
According to Mountstevens, the approach is attracting a broad range of prospective operators, including those moving from managed pubs and individuals entering the sector from entirely different careers.
“It opens up the recruitment pool and it opens up opportunities for people,” he said.
Biggest post-Covid investment programme
Investment remains central to Star’s strategy, with Mountstevens describing 2026 as the company’s strongest year for capital expenditure since the pandemic.
Star has invested tens of millions of pounds annually across its estate and expects this year to surpass recent years in terms of spend.
The programme includes projects ranging from smaller enhancement schemes to major refurbishments worth as much as £750,000.
“Our strongest capex year post-Covid” is how Mountstevens described current investments, adding confidence among operators and investors had improved following developments around business rates earlier in the year.
He also emphasised the significance of continued backing from parent company Heineken.
“Heineken has a choice where it invests,” he said. “To secure that investment in pubs is a great validation of Heineken’s commitment.”
Closed pubs brought back to life
Alongside estate improvements, Star continues to focus heavily on reopening sites that have been shut for long periods.
Mountstevens said the company had reopened a double-digit number of pubs in recent years and cited examples, such as the Engine House in Exeter and the Ship in Tottenham.
He described pub reopenings as among the most rewarding aspects of the business. “You see those come back to life and it’s really brilliant,” he said.
The managing director added long-term planning is critical to such projects, arguing stop-start investment programmes often lead operators to make short-term decisions that can, ultimately, see viable pubs leave the sector permanently.
Rates reform remains top priority
Despite positive trading and investment news, Mountstevens warned structural business rates reform remains the issue with the greatest potential impact on the pub sector.
Calling for a fairer approach to taxing hospitality businesses, he argued pubs continue to shoulder an excessive burden despite their role in generating jobs, investment and social value.
“We need fundamental business rates reform that taxes pubs fairly,” he said.
Mountstevens suggested the next two years present an opportunity for the Government to deliver meaningful change and said the sector needed long-term certainty rather than annual debates over relief measures.
He mused: “If you want to rejuvenate high streets and communities, I don’t see how you do that without a thriving and vibrant pub sector.”
Looking ahead, the Star Pubs MD remains optimistic about the long-term future of pubs, saying well-invested venues would continue to prosper despite economic challenges.
“Pubs are fundamentally at the heart of British society,” he said. “Good, well-invested pubs will continue to thrive.”
