Well-known brewery Heineken plans to create around 1,000 new jobs as part of a major investment project that includes the renovation and reopening of numerous pubs across the United Kingdom.

This Dutch brewery announced an investment of £40 million in its Star Pubs chain. More than 600 pubs, out of a total of 2,400 it has in Great Britain, will receive funding for improvements over the next year.

Star Pubs director Lawson Mountstevens said that this investment represents a 'clear sign of confidence' in the beer industry, despite challenges such as rising costs and financial pressure on consumers. He also emphasized that Britons greatly value their local pubs and that they play an important role in the community.

Renovation work has already begun at ten locations this year, and the reopening of additional pubs that are currently closed is also planned. Last year, the company had already renovated 62 pubs that had been closed for a long time, reducing the number of closed venues to the lowest level since 2019, before the pandemic.

Mountstevens pointed out that pubs are an extremely important driver of the local economy, but warned about the high tax burden affecting them. He called on the authorities to reduce taxes as part of the business rates reform planned for later this year.

Source: PA Media, Daily Mail, 6 May 2025