Latest news with #Mountstevens
Metro
05-05-2025
- Business
- Metro
Heineken to invest £40,000,000 to reopen dozens of pubs and create 1,000 jobs
Heineken has said it will create around 1,000 new jobs around the UK as part of a £40 million boost to its pubs business. The project will focus on revamping around a quarter of the 2,400 alehouses run by Star Pubs, the UK subsidiary of the Dutch brewing giant. Around 62 of its pubs which had been marked for long-term closure were reopened last year as the project got underway. Works have to reopen another 10 have either started or been completed so far this year. It comes after a rough few years for the hospitality industry as it struggled to bounce back from Covid-19 and a long period of high inflation. Since the start of 2020, more than 2,000 pubs have been closed around the country. There are now less than 39,000 left across England and Wales, roughly one for every 950 adults. Bosses said Star Pubs 'is on track to have the lowest number of closed pubs since 2019'. More than 600 pubs – a quarter of the chain's 2,400 establishments – will get a makeover to their interior, toilets and gardens. Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs' managing director, said: 'Consistent investment – rather than a stop, start approach – and a strategy of creating great locals have been key to helping our pubs weather the storms of the last few years. 'Heineken sees firsthand the value in great British pubs and their ongoing popularity. 'It recognises that Brits love their locals and that well-invested pubs trade better. 'This £40 million inward investment from a Dutch business into UK pubs is a resounding vote of confidence in the future of the sector. 'Even with pressures on disposable income, people are still prioritising a trip to their local, valuing it as an everyday treat and as a way of connecting with their community.' Mr Mountstevens said pubs have been hurt by a 'disproportionate tax burden', calling on Keir Starmer's government to address this in its next review of rates. Six months after closure, The Cherry Tree, a pub in Witham, Essex dating to the early 1900s, re-launched as a 'family-friendly community village pub' after a £180,000 upgrade. In Aveley, Essex, The Crown & Anchor was closed for a year before a £244,000 transformation into a sports and entertainment bar. A third, The Wildmoor Oak gastro pub near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, just south of Birmingham, was revived from 18 months of closure after a £513,000 revamp. Mountstevens said: 'Pubs have proved their enduring appeal; after all the disruption of recent years, Star is on track to have the lowest number of closed pubs since 2019. 'It's a tribute to the drive and entrepreneurship of licensees and the importance of continued investment. More Trending 'We've spent more than £200m upgrading and maintaining our pubs over the last five years, and we'll continue to invest to keep them open and thriving. 'Time and again we see the value consumers place on having a good local and how important it is to communities. 'Well-invested pubs run by great licensees are here to stay, but like all locals, they need government support to reduce the enormous tax burden they shoulder.' A similar version of this article was first published on May 6, 2024. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Gerwyn Price is dreaming of a Premier League Darts and Greyhound Derby double success MORE: Pub must pay family £75,000 after false 'dine and dash' accusations on Facebook MORE: The most famous inmates of Alcatraz as Trump orders notorious prison to re-open
STV News
05-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Heineken to create around 1,000 jobs with £40m pub investment
Heineken is set to create around 1,000 jobs as part of a major investment plan which will revamp and reopen dozens of pubs across the UK. The Dutch brewing giant said it will provide a £40m cash injection into its Star Pubs operation. It said more than 600 of its 2,400 UK venues will receive investment funds to make improvements over the next year. Bosses said the move is a 'resounding vote of confidence' in the sector despite recent cost increases and pressure on consumer finances. Works have already started or been completed to reopen ten pubs so far this year, with further sites that are currently closed earmarked for investment to welcome customers again. Star Pubs in Scotland set for refurbishment Newliston Arms Kirkliston Waverley Hotel Bonnyrigg Tavern Prestwick Coach & Horses Dalkeith Royal Bar Helensburgh Neidpath Inn Peebles County Hotel North Berwick Wig Aberdeen Waverley Bar Bridgend Cedar Inn Aberdour White Swan Kelso [Previously Tipsy Ghillie] Yeoman Dunfermline Glenhead Tavern Duntocher The company reopened 62 of its long-term closed pubs last year, leaving the business with its lowest level of closed venues since 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs' managing director, said: 'Consistent investment – rather than a stop, start approach – and a strategy of creating great locals have been key to helping our pubs weather the storms of the last few years. 'Heineken sees firsthand the value in great British pubs and their ongoing popularity. 'It recognises that Brits love their locals and that well-invested pubs trade better. 'This £40m inward investment from a Dutch business into UK pubs is a resounding vote of confidence in the future of the sector. 'Even with pressures on disposable income, people are still prioritising a trip to their local, valuing it as an everyday treat and as a way of connecting with their community.' The boss stressed that local pubs are 'growth engines' in the economy but said they have been impacted by a 'disproportionate tax burden'. Mr Mountstevens called for this to be reduced when the Government draws up fresh plans to overhaul the business rates regime of property tax later this year. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Western Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Heineken to create around 1,000 jobs with £40m pub investment
The Dutch brewing giant said it will provide a £40 million cash injection into its Star Pubs operation. It said more than 600 of its 2,400 UK venues will receive investment funds to make improvements over the next year. Bosses said the move is a 'resounding vote of confidence' in the sector despite recent cost increases and pressure on consumer finances. Heineken sees firsthand the value in great British pubs and their ongoing popularity Lawson Mountstevens, managing director, Star Pubs Works have already started or been completed to reopen 10 pubs so far this year, with further sites that are currently closed earmarked for investment to welcome customers again. The company reopened 62 of its long-term closed pubs last year, leaving the business with its lowest level of closed venues since 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs' managing director, said: 'Consistent investment – rather than a stop, start approach – and a strategy of creating great locals have been key to helping our pubs weather the storms of the last few years. 'Heineken sees firsthand the value in great British pubs and their ongoing popularity. 'It recognises that Brits love their locals and that well-invested pubs trade better. 'This £40 million inward investment from a Dutch business into UK pubs is a resounding vote of confidence in the future of the sector. 'Even with pressures on disposable income, people are still prioritising a trip to their local, valuing it as an everyday treat and as a way of connecting with their community.' The boss stressed that local pubs are 'growth engines' in the economy but said they have been impacted by a 'disproportionate tax burden'. Mr Mountstevens called for this to be reduced when the Government draws up fresh plans to overhaul the business rates regime of property tax later this year.
The Independent
04-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Brewing giant to create around 1,000 jobs by reopening closed pubs across the UK
Heineken is set to create around 1,000 jobs as part of a major investment plan which will revamp and reopen dozens of pubs across the UK. The Dutch brewing giant said it will provide a £40 million cash injection into its Star Pubs operation. It said more than 600 of its 2,400 UK venues will receive investment funds to make improvements over the next year. Bosses said the move is a 'resounding vote of confidence' in the sector despite recent cost increases and pressure on consumer finances. Works have already started or been completed to reopen 10 pubs so far this year, with further sites that are currently closed earmarked for investment to welcome customers again. The company reopened 62 of its long-term closed pubs last year, leaving the business with its lowest level of closed venues since 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic hit. Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs' managing director, said: 'Consistent investment – rather than a stop, start approach – and a strategy of creating great locals have been key to helping our pubs weather the storms of the last few years. ' Heineken sees firsthand the value in great British pubs and their ongoing popularity. 'It recognises that Brits love their locals and that well-invested pubs trade better. 'This £40 million inward investment from a Dutch business into UK pubs is a resounding vote of confidence in the future of the sector. 'Even with pressures on disposable income, people are still prioritising a trip to their local, valuing it as an everyday treat and as a way of connecting with their community.' The boss stressed that local pubs are 'growth engines' in the economy but said they have been impacted by a 'disproportionate tax burden'. Mr Mountstevens called for this to be reduced when the Government draws up fresh plans to overhaul the business rates regime of property tax later this year.
