Greene King invests £42m into pubs and smokehouses
Despite a tough economic climate, Greene King remains ambitious in maximising its brand
Greene King has poured nearly £42 million into refurbishing and expanding 130 venues during the first half of 2025.
The investment includes around £24 million across 62 managed pubs and destination venues.
Notable highlights include a £1.1 million overhaul of The Railway near London’s Liverpool Street, reimagined as an all-day space from breakfast meetings to late-night sports screenings.
Wakefield also welcomed the second-ever Farmhouse Kitchen at Silkwood Park, promising an elevated dining concept. Meanwhile, smokehouse fans have reason to celebrate: Hickory’s expansion is in full swing with 10 new restaurants planned for 2025, following six launches in 2024.
Greene King’s leased and tenanted division, Pub Partners, accounted for nearly £9 million invested in 63 pubs – 18 of which were new franchise locations. Among the eye-catching revamps are the Anchor in Walsworth and the Turf & Feather in Birchwood.
Franchise activity has also pushed into Scotland, with landmark openings like the Nest in Edinburgh’s Tarbet and the Stables in Stenhousemuir, now the largest Hive investment to date.
Enhancing hospitality
Nick Mackenzie, Greene King CEO, said: "We are determined to offer our customers the best pub experience and so it is important to maintain momentum in our investment plans despite the challenging wider economic environment.
“We have some brilliant pubs in great locations and we want to make the most out of our bricks and mortar so our pub teams can thrive in the best settings and give our customers great hospitality and fantastic experiences.
“Customers appreciate the efforts we go to in making their local the best it can be and we intend to keep investing in our estate and maximising the potential of our brands and assets. However, we can only continue to do this if the government supports the sector so it is given the potential to thrive.”
Greene King’s total investment for the same period in 2024 included £26 million across 36 managed pubs and £9 million in leased sites.
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