Heineken: invests 39 million pounds to open dozens of closed pubs in Britain – Economic Mail

Heineken has pledged £39 million to fund the reopening of around 60 pubs in the UK and revitalize tired locals in suburban areas in a bid to attract more consumers working from home.

The brewery, which has 2,400 outlets through its Star pubs and bars, plans to reopen 62 long-term closure sites this year and upgrade 612 outlets, of which 94 are due for a £200,000 refurbishment.

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According to the company, the most significant renovations will focus on suburban pubs, transforming them into “premium” local pubs to attract customers who since the pandemic have been working remotely from their own workplaces, as well as people who want to save money and time on commuting to more central areas, and enjoy their beer close by. The place where they live.

The latest investment will create around 1,075 new jobs and expand the use of each pub, and comes amid signs of rising consumer confidence as the country’s inflation and cost of living crisis eases.

Collective locks

Breweries and pubs were forced to close for several months under pandemic restrictions, and the industry has since faced higher costs, including energy bills and wages, at the same time as consumers cut back on their flexible spending.

The number of pubs in the UK was declining even before the coronavirus outbreak, according to the British Beer and Pub Association. Figures from the industry body show a steady decline from 60,800 pubs in 2000 to 47,200 pubs in 2019.

But pub groups have in recent weeks announced plans for new investment, betting on renewed confidence in the industry.

Tim Martin, founder and chairman of JD Wetherspoon, said in March he had a list of 130 cities he wanted to open a pub in, as he announced an eight-fold increase in pre-tax profits in the six months to January 2024.

Greene King announced last week that it would invest £40 million in a new brewery in the east of England.

Britain’s Heineken, the world’s second-largest brewer, said its latest investment means it will reopen 156 long-closed pubs, including those in Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Cumbria, between early 2023 and the end of 2024. Pre-Covid. Most of the 2,400 pubs are rented to small businesses and business people.