Heineken invests £44.5 million to support pubs – Daily Business

Ben Smith and Gillian McIntee at the reopened Neidpath Inn

Heineken UK is investing £44.5 million in an upgrade of hundreds of pubs in a move that will create 850 jobs.

The Edinburgh-headquartered business said 647 of its 2,350-strong Star Pubs estate will benefit from the programme. It includes the complete transformation of 108 pubs.

Of the total investment, £3.08m will be spent on projects at 27 of 225 pubs in Scotland this year, creating 85 jobs.

A further 18 pubs have been identified for substantial refurbishments totalling £2.59m. Progress on these will be subject to factors such as recruitment of publicans and any necessary planning permissions. 

Pubs getting a makeover include The Parliament Arms on the Royal Mile, The Neidpath Inn in Peebles, and The Railway Tavern in Prestonpans.

Heineken has pumped £328m into its locals since 2018. At a time when the UK is losing approximately one pub a day, Star Pubs has closed fewer pubs than before the pandemic. 

Major refurbishments will focus on developing venues that appeal to the whole community and have different areas for drinking, dining and sports or entertainment. About a quarter of these bigger schemes will elevate sports.

On the back of the Luke Littler inspired darts revival, darts will be enhanced with a move to halo-lit boards and a trial of electronic scoring systems with video capability so that pubs can play live with other venues around the world.

Sky Q will also be rolled out further, allowing sports pubs to simultaneously show a greater range of sporting events. With the aim of bringing the stadium experience to pubs, there will be more 80-inch screens.

John Swinney at the opening of Heineken’s new Edinburgh HQ last summer (pic: DB Media Services)

Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs’ managing director, said: “Pubs are a fantastic institution, admired the world over. We’re proud to be a leading investor in Scotland’s locals and to be playing a part in securing their future along with our dedicated and entrepreneurial licensees. 

“Investment is essential if pubs are to remain a first choice for people looking for somewhere to socialise. It is also critical for pubs needing to generate extra revenue to fund the sustained increases in running costs they’ve faced in recent years.

“However we can only do so much; the root-and-branch reform of business rates that the industry has been calling for over many years is urgently required, as well as a lowering of the burden of taxation on pubs – including VAT and beer duty. We would ask the Scottish Government to work with us in delivering these reforms. 

“Importantly, this investment will create flexible job opportunities and give many young people their first taste of the world of work.” 

A £290,000 revamp of The Neidpath Inn in the Old Town of Peebles has transformed the formerly tired and little-used pub into a top-notch family- and dog-friendly local. The Neidpath Inn reopened in mid-April with new publicans Gillian McIntee and Ben Smith at the helm, creating eight jobs.

To cater for all and all occasions, the pub now boasts a space for dining, a comfortable lounge with a snug and log burner and a large bar for drinks and socialising.

This features a games area kitted out with an all-new pool table, halo-lit darts and a high-spec AV system showing TNT and Sky Sports. The works included a kitchen refit.

Ms McIntee, who also runs The Riccarton Inn Pub & Dining at Currie, said: “The Neidpath Inn was crying out for TLC.

“Our ambition from the outset has been to put it back on the map as a hub of local life that has something for everyone and is an asset to Peebles.

“It required a complete overhaul to successfully relaunch it – anything less wouldn’t have made an impact.

“The reception from the community has been fantastic; the pub has been heaving with a complete mix of people.”

#Heineken #invests #million #support #pubs #Daily #Business