HEINEKEN Safeguards the Future of Pubs With £44.5M Investment

• 647 pubs set for investment, resulting in 850 new jobs
• 536 are individual locals run by independent publicans
• Big emphasis on sports facilities in a World Cup year
• Contemporary pub trial aims to maintain the great British local’s relevance to young adults
• Investment is 10% higher than HEINEKEN’s 2025 spend

In a cash-constrained economy, HEINEKEN UK announced today it is helping protect the great British local with a £44.5m investment to upgrade 647 pubs in its 2,350-strong Star Pubs estate in 2026. The programme includes the complete transformation of 108 pubs costing £145,000 or more and will create an estimated 850 jobs.

With hospitality businesses finding it difficult to secure finance in the current climate, the investment is providing a lifeline to one-of-a-kind pubs. 536 of the locals set to benefit are independently operated by licensees who lease the buildings from Star Pubs and run the pubs as their own. The remaining 111 pubs are operator-managed, non-branded venues that are popular with those starting out as publicans.

HEINEKEN has pumped £328m into its locals since 2018, safeguarding them for the long term. At a time when the UK is losing approximately one pub a day¹, Star Pubs has fewer closed pubs than before the pandemic. The company has already broken ground at 52 sites, its fastest start to the year since 2020. Eight² of these projects are reopening boarded-up pubs that have been closed for significant periods, including one³ that has been shut for seven years.

Major refurbishments will focus on developing top-quality locals that appeal to the whole community and have different areas for drinking, dining, and sports or entertainment. About a quarter of these bigger revamps 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, and an additional 100 pubs will have outdoor screens installed in time for the World Cup.

To ensure the great British local retains its relevance with generations to come, HEINEKEN will trial a new contemporary pub model designed to appeal to younger adults. The offer will change from morning coffee and space to work from the pub during the day to DJs, open-mic sessions, and live music at night, along with competitive socialising, such as shuffleboard and giant board games. The décor will have a stripped-back look with exposed brickwork, timber floors, and lots of greenery.

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 Britain’s independently operated 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 are calling on the Government to support us in bringing out the best in the Great British pub.

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

Case studies:

The Duke of York, Hanwell, Ealing

A £485,000 investment by Star Pubs and local residents Erich and Lisa Von Gehren reopened The Duke of York, Hanwell, in early April following a five-month closure, creating 12 new jobs. Located near the Elizabeth Line tube station, the one-time music dive has been given a new lease of life as a warm and welcoming, family- and dog-friendly community local. Refurbished inside and out, the pub consists of a bar, a lounge, and a new sports zone offering darts and live sports. Outside seating has been doubled to accommodate 80 people for alfresco eating and drinking.

With Erich’s previous experience of running restaurants and Lisa’s events management background, the couple is keen to put The Duke of York on the map for affordable, gastro-quality food, cask ale, and fun activities. In addition, a quiz, live music, and community events are planned.

Says Erich: “Having lived in Hanwell for three years, Lisa and I know how important it is for the community to have somewhere to come together. We really appreciate the role pubs play in society as we come from America, where there aren’t neighbourhood pubs. We’re first-time publicans – it’s early days, but we already absolutely love it. The investment from Star Pubs helped make our dream a reality and is enabling us to contribute to our community in different ways, from giving young people a step onto the hospitality ladder to supporting local suppliers and playing host to the Hanwell music festival. The pub was an eyesore before and barely used. Residents are delighted with the transformation and are making the most of their new local.”

The Blue Eagle – formerly the Spread Eagle – Southend-on-Sea

In a joint project between Star Pubs and Southend United Football Club, The Spread Eagle has now been transformed into a top-quality local that specialises in sports. It also provides a fantastic pre- and post-match experience for Shrimpers’ supporters on match days. The pub – which is adjacent to the Southend United stadium – has been renamed The Blue Eagle to reflect its new direction, with its décor incorporating the club’s signature navy blue. It opened in time for Southend’s last game of the season on 25th April, creating six new jobs.

The exterior works renovated the beautiful old building, with plans to revamp the garden area, enabling it to double as a sports fan zone with outside screens. Inside, the smart new design celebrates Southend United with memorabilia and photographs. The pub has a comfortable lounge area and a spacious bar fitted out with an all-new pool table, halo-lit darts, and a high-spec AV system showing Sky & TNT Sports. Multiple screens, including three on the back of the bar, ensure fans can catch all of the action.

Southend United Chairman, Justin Rees, said: “Our ambition has been to create a high-quality, family-friendly local that the city can be proud of and enjoy year-round, while also adding another great option for supporters on matchdays. Whether it’s live sport, a game of pool or darts, or the build-up before kick-off, it’s all about giving people different ways to come together and enjoy football. We’re grateful to Star Pubs for the opportunity to collaborate and for their investment in the refurbishment, which has helped bring this vision to life.”

The Duke, Burbage, Buxton, Derbyshire

Following a four-year closure and a £240,000 refurbishment, The Duke in Burbage, Buxton, is back thriving at the heart of its community and has created 22 local jobs. New licensee Rebecca Higgins, who’d managed the pub in the past, and her husband Dan lived opposite the pub and so knew its potential. Already interested in taking it on, the investment finance sealed the deal for them.

The funds completely overhauled the pub, kitting out the main bar, dining, and lounge areas with new furniture, soft furnishings, and fittings. Outside, a new fenced seating area was developed, sporting artificial grass, wood decking, and planters. The Duke opened in October 2025 and has been packed out ever since.

Says Rebecca: “Trade is much better than we’d even dared hope, despite the challenges the hospitality industry faces. The local support we’ve had has been amazing, with everyone commenting on how lovely the pub looks. It’s attracting a total mix of customers, from a younger crowd to retired couples. We serve traditional pub food and host regular activities like karaoke, rock-n-roll bingo, and coffee mornings with a soft play area for the kids.

“It was sad living across from a closed pub, especially one I knew so well. It’s been hugely rewarding to turn The Duke back into a real hub of the community.”