HEINEKEN UK has announced that it is investing £4.5m in re-opening and up-grading the pubs in its Star Pubs’ division across Scotland this year.
With 28 local pubs already identified for improvements, subject to recruiting new operators, 20 of these are in line for redevelopment costing an average of £212,000 which includes a package of energy efficiency measures to increase each pub’s sustainability. The pubs are expected to create around 150 new jobs.
One of these is Van Winkle on Sandyford Place in Glasgow where a £275,000 revamp is under way to turn it into Gael & Grain, a pub that focuses on Scottish food, drink and music.
The new investment follows a spend of £1.28m over the last 6 months re-opening four long-term closed pubs – The Howard Arms, Kilmarnock, The New Rhindsdale Tavern at Baillieston, The Scoonie Tavern in Leven and The Station Inn at Braidwood.
The Howard Arms was re-opened at the end of last year after a five-year closure thanks to a £395,000 joint refurbishment by Star Pubs and new licensee Rick Houston, who also runs The Cartvale at Busby. The overhaul stripped out the building, replacing everything from the furniture to the flooring, and moved the kitchen to enable the pub to focus on food as well as creating 15 jobs.
Rick 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.”
HEINEKEN UK’s announcement comes on the same day Scotland’s First Minister opens its new headquarters at 6 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh. The company has invested £2m in remodelling the St Andrew Square offices where the majority of its 500-strong Scottish workforce are based.