Greene King has unveiled its intention to launch 30 new franchise pubs this year, following the achievement of reaching 100 franchise Hive and Nest concept pubs.
During 2025, Greene King Pub Partners introduced 30 new franchise pubs, with the inclusion of establishments in Scotland under the Belhaven brand for the first time. Expanding further, the company is set to venture into Wales and the Southwest of England in 2026 with a series of new openings.
Among the confirmed locations for this year are Millwrights in Aylesbury, The Freemasons Arms in Wigan, and The Flag Inn in Egerton.
In 2025, Greene King franchise pubs like The Tarbet in Edinburgh, the first Greene King franchise pub in Scotland post a £285,000 refurbishment, were launched. Additionally, The Dolphin in Melbourn was reopened as a Hive pub after a £570,000 investment, and the Two Poplars in Wokingham was transformed after a £450,000 upgrade.
Penelope Bruce, Pub Partners Franchise Operations Director, expressed excitement at reaching 100 franchise pubs, highlighting the continual growth of their franchise offer since launching their first Hive Pub over four years ago.
Dan Robinson, the Managing Director of Greene King Pub Partners, expressed delight at the ongoing success of their franchise business, which complements their leased and tenanted pub business effectively.
This initiative follows Greene King’s recent promotion where free pints of Guinness were offered last weekend coinciding with the start of the Six Nations rugby tournament.
To claim a free pint, patrons needed to book a table for any Six Nations game on February 7 through the Greene King website. The offer was available at all Greene King sports pubs, including Flaming Grill, Hungry Horse, and Belhaven, as part of the new Fans Reunited campaign featuring Rugby World Cup winners Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson.
Zoe Bowley, Managing Director for Greene King pubs, emphasized the role of sport and the pub atmosphere in uniting people through the Fans Reunited campaign, which aims to bring old friends together over a pint during the Guinness Six Nations season.