Greene King has revealed its strategy to introduce 30 new franchise pubs within the current year. The company recently achieved a significant milestone with 100 franchise pubs under its Hive and Nest concept.
In the year 2025, Greene King Pub Partners successfully launched 30 new franchise pubs, marking its entry into the Scottish market under the Belhaven brand for the first time. Looking ahead to 2026, Greene King plans to extend its franchise footprint to Wales and the Southwest of England, unveiling a series of new establishments.
Among the confirmed locations for this year are Millwrights in Aylesbury, The Freemasons Arms in Wigan, and The Flag Inn in Egerton.
Notable Greene King franchise pub openings in 2025 included The Tarbet in Edinburgh, the first Greene King franchise pub in Scotland following a £285,000 refurbishment. Additionally, The Dolphin in Melbourn was relaunched as a Hive pub after a £570,000 investment, and the Two Poplars in Wokingham opened its doors after a £450,000 transformation.
Penelope Bruce, the Director of Pub Partners Franchise Operations, expressed excitement about reaching the milestone of 100 franchise pubs and emphasized the continuous growth of their franchise offerings since the launch of their first Hive Pub over four years ago.
Dan Robinson, Managing Director of Greene King Pub Partners, commended the ongoing expansion of their franchise business, which complements their successful leased and tenanted pub operations.
In other news, Greene King recently distributed complimentary pints of Guinness during the start of the Six Nations rugby tournament. To claim a free pint, patrons had to book a table for any Six Nations game on February 7 via the Greene King website. This offer was available at all Greene King sports pubs, including Flaming Grill, Hungry Horse, and Belhaven, as part of the Fans Reunited campaign featuring rugby legends Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson.
Zoe Bowley, Managing Director for Greene King pubs, highlighted the importance of sport and the pub environment in uniting people. The Fans Reunited initiative, coinciding with the Guinness Six Nations, aimed to bring fans back together over a shared love of the game and create memorable moments of connection.
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