Heineken, a global brewing giant, plans to rejuvenate 62 closed pubs in the UK and invest £39m in refurbishing over 94 of its existing establishments.
By the end of this year, the company aims to have restored 156 pubs that were previously shuttered since the beginning of 2023.
With the increasing number of pub closures and consumers' cost-of-living pressures, Heineken is focused on transforming outdated pubs into premium local hangouts.
Already, two pubs – The Cherry Tree in Witham and The Crown & Anchor in Aveley – have reopened following refurbishments totaling £180,000 and £244,000 respectively.
Some of the pubs set for major investments include The Hesketh Tavern in Cheadle Hulme, The Manvers Arms in Radcliffe on Trent, and The Punch Bowl in West Hallam.
The history of Heineken in the UK reaches back to the year 1864, marking their start in exporting beer to Britain.
"Well-invested pubs run by great licensees are here to stay but they need Government support to reduce the enormous tax burden they shoulder."
Lawson Mountstevens
Since the acquisition of Scottish and Newcastle (S&N) by Heineken in 2008, there has been a substantial increase in the number of pubs under the management of its Star Pubs & Bars brand, with approximately 2,400 new additions.
Amid Star Pubs' substantial financial inflow, various pub businesses encounter hardships as consumers cut back on dining and drinking out, influenced by increasing living costs.
Some chains like Byron Burger and Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, have announced closures, while others like Whitbread and Papa John's are downsizing their operations.
The British Beer and Pub Association announced that last year saw the closure of more than 500 pubs in the UK; meanwhile, Heineken decided to invest. (The total number of pubs still functioning was 45,306)
"The Ship needed a facelift to get customers back. It is proof of the need for traditional locals. Everyone comes here, from families to retirees. It's a social hub."
Rebecca Skelly
The company hopes to bring back traditional local pubs like The Ashford Arms in Derbyshire, which closed in March 2020 and reopened after a £1.6m joint refurbishment by Star Pubs and Longbow Venues.
Following a significant £370,000 refurbishment, The Ship public house in Worsbrough, Barnsley is once again open for business.