Greene King has unveiled its strategy to introduce 30 new franchise pubs within the current year. The pub chain has achieved a significant milestone by reaching 100 franchise Hive and Nest concept pubs.
In the previous year, Greene King Pub Partners launched 30 fresh franchise pubs, including its debut in Scotland under the Belhaven brand. In the upcoming year of 2026, the company plans to extend its franchise activities to Wales and the Southwest of England with 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.
In 2025, Greene King franchise pubs such as The Tarbet in Edinburgh were introduced, marking the first Greene King franchise pub in Scotland after a £285,000 renovation. Moreover, The Dolphin in Melbourn was reopened as a Hive pub following a £570,000 investment, and the Two Poplars in Wokingham commenced operations after a £450,000 makeover.
Penelope Bruce, Pub Partners Franchise Operations Director, expressed delight at achieving the milestone of 100 franchise pubs. She highlighted the continuous growth of the franchise program since the launch of the first Hive Pub over four years ago.
Dan Robinson, Managing Director of Greene King Pub Partners, stated the company’s satisfaction with the flourishing franchise business, which complements their successful leased and tenanted pub operations.
As part of the ongoing Fans Reunited campaign, Greene King offered complimentary pints of Guinness last weekend to coincide 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 via the Greene King website.
The promotion was valid at all Greene King sports pubs, including Flaming Grill, Hungry Horse, and Belhaven, as part of the Fans Reunited initiative, featuring Rugby World Cup champions Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson.
Zoe Bowley, Managing Director for Greene King pubs, emphasized the role of sport and pub culture in uniting people. The Fans Reunited campaign aims to bring old friends together over a pint, coinciding with the Guinness Six Nations to rekindle shared memories and connections.