Greene King has revealed its intention to launch 30 new franchise pubs this year. The company recently achieved a significant milestone by reaching 100 franchise Hive and Nest concept pubs.
In 2025, Greene King Pub Partners introduced 30 new franchise pubs, including the debut of the Belhaven brand in Scotland. Moving forward, the company plans to extend its franchise operations to 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. The expansion of Greene King franchise pubs 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 reopened as a Hive pub after a £570,000 investment, and the Two Poplars in Wokingham was transformed and opened after a £450,000 renovation.
Penelope Bruce, Pub Partners Franchise Operations Director, expressed excitement over reaching 100 franchise pubs, highlighting the continuous growth of their franchise offer since launching the first Hive Pub over four years ago. As they expand into Scotland and plan to launch in Wales in 2026, Greene King is actively seeking applicants to manage the new pubs in their pipeline.
Dan Robinson, Managing Director of Greene King Pub Partners, lauded the ongoing growth of their franchise business, which complements their successful leased and tenanted pub business. Notably, Greene King recently offered free pints of Guinness during the start of the Six Nations rugby tournament, requiring patrons to book a table for any game on February 7 via the Greene King website.
The promotion was available at all Greene King sports pubs, including Flaming Grill, Hungry Horse, and Belhaven, as part of the Fans Reunited campaign, fronted by Rugby World Cup champions Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson. Zoe Bowley, Managing Director for Greene King pubs, emphasized the role of sport and the pub atmosphere in bringing people together, aiming to create moments where old friends reconnect over a pint through the Fans Reunited initiative.
