Heineken N.V. (EURONEXT:HEIA) has announced a £39 million investment to refurbish and reopen 62 previously closed pubs across the UK, as part of its Star Pubs & Bars chain, creating over 1,000 new jobs.
The investment follows significant challenges faced by the UK pubs industry, which has seen closures escalate due to the Covid pandemic and cost of living pressures, with an average of 500 pubs closing annually between 2021 and 2023.
The refurbishments will focus on transforming pubs in suburban areas to cater to the increase in remote work and reduced commuting.
By the end of the year, Heineken aims to reduce the number of closed pubs to pre-pandemic levels, having reopened 156 pubs since early 2023.