Heineken has announced that it will launch a £44 million investment programme to upgrade its UK pub network throughout the course of 2018.
Heineken’s leased pub business Star Pubs & Bars is the UK’s third largest pub business, and the investment will upgrade approximately 500 of the company’s 2,900 pubs.
The programme will also include 140 additional upgrade projects, which will cost an average of £170,000 per site, and Heineken says that the programme could create approximately 1,000 new jobs.
David Fordem, UK managing director of Heineken said: “We are passionate supporters of the Great British Pub and believe that well-invested pubs run by skilled and motivated operators will continue to prosper.
“We believe that our commitment to investment, and understanding of consumer trends, will help our licensees’ businesses to keep growing and ensure that the Great British Pub remains at the heart of British life for generations to come.”
The UK’ government’s secretary of state for business, Greg Clark MP added: “From pop-up breweries to historic watering holes, pubs are at the heart of communities and play a vital role in local economies.
“This record investment by Heineken and their creation of 1,000 new British jobs is another significant vote of confidence in the UK economy.”
Heineken significantly expanded its network of pubs in the UK in December 2016, when the company acquired 1,900 pubs from Punch Taverns in a £305 million deal.