Heineken UK invests £44.5m in 647 pubs, creating 850 jobs

Heineken UK announced a £44.5 million investment on Tuesday to upgrade 647 pubs across its Star Pubs estate of 2,350 venues in 2026, a move expected to create 850 new jobs nationwide.

The programme targets 108 sites for major transformations, each receiving at least £145,000, with enhancements focused on sports facilities, dining areas and community spaces. These upgrades come ahead of the 2026 football World Cup and build on £328 million invested in British pubs since 2018. Work has already begun at 52 locations, including the reopening of eight previously boarded-up venues after prolonged closures.

Regional allocations highlight the scale: £1.57 million for the East Midlands, benefiting pubs such as The Duke in Burbage, Derbyshire; the King Alfred in Alfreton; the Punch Bowl in West Hallam; and four Leicestershire sites including The Donkey on Welford Road, Leicester. Licensees there are contributing an additional £100,000, creating over two dozen jobs. In the North East and North Yorkshire, £1.94 million will refurbish nine pubs, such as The Ship in Marske, which reopened in April after a £327,000 overhaul and now hosts community events alongside 12 new positions. Nearly £3.1...