Latest news with #RickHouston
Daily Record
05-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
'Fantastic response' six months after Killie pub reopens following £400k refurb
The Howard Arms in Kilmarnock reopened recently after a joint refurbishment by Star Pubs and new licensee Rick Houston. A long-term closed Ayrshire pub has reopened after a major investment worth almost £400,000. The Howard Arms in Kilmarnock has welcomed customers back for the first time in November 2024 after being closed for five years. A familiar sight in the town's Glencairn Square, the popular pub was previously a destination for football supporters ahead of Kilmarnock games and was famously decked in blue and white stripes in 1997 as Killie won the Scottish Cup. Star Pubs and new licensee Rick Houston have invested £395,000 into the venue to give it a new lease of life and transformed it into a "top-notch dog-friendly pub complete with a revamped function room and a great garden with its own outdoor bar". The interior has been completely refurbished with a new kitchen and function room - the Killie Room - ready to welcome back customers with 15 new jobs created. It now offers an extensive menu of freshly prepared homemade contemporary pub classics – including hand-stretched Neapolitan pizzas – and a wide choice of drinks spanning cocktails, barista-quality coffee and craft beers. Rick, who also runs The Cartvale at Busby, said: 'The Howard Arms is an iconic Kilmarnock pub. There's a lot of love for it in the town and it had been much missed. 'We've had a fantastic response to the reopening. People of all ages are enjoying the pub for a whole host of occasions from business meetings and afternoon coffees to nights out and Sunday roasts. 'Our function room – the Killie Room – is taking off, people love the party menu and are booking it for all kinds of events and celebrations. 'Having been closed for five years, the pub needed a complete relaunch to get it back on its feet. A big investment was essential – a lick of paint wouldn't have cut it.' Star Pubs, a division of Heineken UK, has spent £1.28m reopening four long-term closed Scottish pubs, including the Howard Arms, in the last six months. A further £4.5m is earmarked for pubs in Scotland which will result in an estimated 150 new jobs.
Scottish Sun
05-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Heineken announces major pub update and it's good news for Scottish boozers
Heineken has earmarked 28 other pubs for improvements, with 20 of these in line for works costing on average £212,000 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEINEKEN is preparing to spend nearly £6million on its Scottish pubs this year. The brewing giant is investing in its boozers in the UK and premises north of the border will receive a boost. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Dozens of pubs across Scotland are to be refurbished Credit: Alamy 3 Heineken UK is investing million in its Scottish bars Credit: Alamy 3 As part of the multimillion pound investment The Howard Arms in Kilmarnock has reopened Credit: Mark F Gibson / Gibson Digital The Dutch firm spent £1.28m over the last six months reopening pubs closed long-term in Scotland. And the company has £4.5m reserved for upgrading more bars this year. The investment in Scotland is expected to create nearly 1,000 new jobs. The spending is part of Heineken UK ploughing £40m into revamping and reopening bars in its Star Pubs' division. As part of the £1.28m already spent, The Howard Arms in Kilmarnock, The New Rhindsdale Tavern in Baillieston, Glasgow, The Scoonie Tavern in Leven, Fife, and The Station Inn in Braidwood, South Lanarkshire have reopened. Following these four renovations, 150 new jobs are estimated to have been created. Heineken has earmarked 28 other pubs for improvements, with 20 of these in line for works costing on average £212,000. The Van Winkle on Sandyford Place in Glasgow is currently undergoing a £275,000 revamp. The bar will be turned into the Gael and Grain, celebrating Scottish food, drink and music. The Howard Arms reopened last November after being shut for five years. Why McDonald's Cancelled Its New Drive-Thru Plans in Scottish Town (1) Star Bars and new licensee Rick Houston spent £395,000 on a joint refurbishment. The revamped pub has been transformed into a dog-friendly pub with a renovated function room and a garden with its own outdoor bar. The food-focused premises offer a wide-ranging menu of homemade pub classics - including hand-stretched Neapolitan pizzas - and an extensive drinks menu, from cocktails and craft beers to quality coffee. Mr Houston said: 'The Howard Arms is an iconic Kilmarnock pub. There's a lot of love for it in the town and it had been much missed. "We've had a fantastic response to the reopening. People of all ages are enjoying the pub for a whole host of occasions from business meetings and afternoon coffees to nights out and Sunday roasts. "Our function room – the Killie Room – is taking off, people love the party menu and are booking it for all kinds of events and celebrations. Having been closed for five years, the pub needed a complete relaunch to get it back on its feet. A big investment was essential – a lick of paint wouldn't have cut it.' Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs' managing director, said: 'We've invested over £1.28m in reopening four long-term closed pubs in Scotland in the last six months alone and they've all had a terrific response from local residents. "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. "But they want to be guaranteed a quality experience: relaxing in an attractive setting is an important factor when pubgoers choose where to spend their money. 'The vast majority of our pubs are leased by independent operators who run them as their own. Investing in them keeps alive the tradition of individual locals, each with its own unique feel and serving the particular needs of its community. 'Star Pubs' licensees in Scotland employ some 2,500 people, support many Scottish suppliers and raise thousands of pounds for local charities and good causes every year. "Pubs are the lifeblood of their communities and growth engines for the UK economy; however they are being penalised by a disproportionate tax burden, which we hope will be addressed.'
