Belhaven invests close to £5m in Scottish pubs

Belhaven has confirmed it invested almost £5m in its Scottish pubs in 2025, spanning 22 managed, tenanted and franchised sites. 

The investment programme from the Greene King brand increased fourfold this year in terms of Belhaven pub refurbishments.

The year also marked a significant milestone for the leased, tenanted and franchise side of the business, Pub Partners, as it launched its pub franchise models, Hive and Nest, in Scotland for the first time in 2025. 

"We have been thrilled to launch and successfully drive our franchise pub concepts across Scotland this year," says Penelope Bruce, Pub Partners operations director. "We will continue to support our growing family of franchisees every step of the way as they build thriving pubs at the heart of their local communities.

"It’s been so good to see the appetite from experienced operators choosing our franchise models as they realise the potential and benefits. These nine pubs have been rejuvenated in 2025 and we hope to work with the Scottish government to show how they can ease the regulatory burdens facing the pubs sector so that investments like this can thrive for years to come."

Where has the money gone?

Key managed pub investments have included Molly Malones in Aberdeen, the Merlin in Edinburgh and the Kittoch in East Kilbride. There were six investment projects topping £2.5m across managed pubs, including three in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow, with an average spend of c£400,000. 

Pub Partners launched nine franchise pubs in Scotland, costing a total of £2.2m. A total of £500,000 was invested at the Stables in Stenhousemuir, with two new franchise openings in Edinburgh and four in Glasgow. 

Pub Partners also invested six-figure sums across seven leased and tenanted sites. Significant projects were at the Mallard in Dingwall and the Steelworks in Motherwell. 

"Scottish hospitality is renowned, and we have many historic and iconic pubs here full of stories and memories for so many people," adds David McBride, Belhaven Pubs business unit director. "These are not just bricks and mortar, they are much-loved hubs of local communities and cities.

"Despite the ongoing economic and legislative challenges and costs of doing business, we have a duty of care to our pubs, pub teams, customers and communities to make sure we offer the best possible service and experience in our pubs so investment remains vital." 

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