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 | Cumbria Times Weekend Edition |
12:02 AM 6th May 2024
business
Heineken UK To Invest £2.24m In North West Pubs
A quarter (612) of HEINEKEN UK’s 2,400 pubs are in line for improvement nationally, with 94 of these set for makeovers costing on average £200,000.
Two North West pubs that have benefited from the investment so far in 2024 are The Whitakers Arms in Accrington and The Coach & Horses in Carlisle1.
With working from home more commonplace and people looking to save on travel, major refurbishments will concentrate on transforming tired pubs in suburban areas into premium locals. The revamps are designed to broaden each pub’s use and appeal, giving people additional reasons to visit. Subtle zoning will signpost pubgoers to the area likely to suit them best, enabling different groups of customers to simultaneously enjoy a variety of activities – from watching sports to dining – without disturbing each other. Dividing screens and distinct changes to lighting, sound systems and furniture styles will help delineate the zones. The new designs will have a stylish classic feel, providing longevity. Reflecting customers’ increased expectations, the projects will be carried out to a high standard and will impact every part of the pubs, from the toilets to the gardens.
Other common changes will include overhauling cellars with state-of-the-art dispense equipment to ensure consistently perfect pints and repositioning tills to speed up service. Furthering progress against HEINEKEN UK’s ambition to be net zero across its entire value chain by 2040, substantial projects will feature energy efficiency measures, such as heating controls, insulation and low- energy lighting, that will typically cost £12,500 per pub and cut energy use by 15%.
“People are looking for maximum value from visits to their local. They want great surroundings and food and drink as well as activities that give them an extra reason to go out, such as sports screenings and entertainment. Creating fantastic locals that can accommodate a range of occasions meets this need and helps pubs fulfil their role as vital third spaces where communities can come together.
“Pubs have proved their enduring appeal; after all the disruption of recent years, Star is on track to have the lowest number of long-term closed pubs since 2019. It’s a tribute to the drive and entrepreneurship of licensees and the importance of continued investment. We’ve spent more than £200m maintaining and upgrading our pubs over the last five years, and we’ll continue to invest to keep them open and thriving. Time and again we see the value consumers place on having a good local and how important it is to communities. Well-invested pubs run by great licensees are here to stay, but like all locals, need Government support to reduce the enormous tax burden they shoulder.”
CASE STUDIES
Whitakers Arms
The investment transformed the dated pub into a great quality family-friendly local that caters for the whole community. New signage, lighting, garden furniture and planting smartened up the exterior whilst inside a top to toe redecoration and new furniture and fittings have made The Whitakers Arms more warm, welcoming and cotemporary. It now has a traditional bar, a comfortable lounge and dining area and a games zone complete with a new pool table, darts and a high spec AV system showing BT and TNT Sports. The revamped 70-seater function room is attracting many private bookings, whilst a new kitchen is allowing the pub to serve all-day food.
The pub hosts a range of activities which bring the community together including senior citizen coffee mornings, bingo, quiz nights, Saturday evening entertainment and live sports as well as pool and darts
Whitakers Arms
“Customers are telling my husband and myself that they have never seen the pub as busy as this. It is now a premium community local where residents want to spend time. People are coming in who haven’t seen each other for years. We’ve everyone in here from the younger generation in their 20s to carers with the clients they’re looking after. They’re all over the moon about the pub and the fantastic atmosphere. We’re very hands-on and try to meet everyone, which makes a difference. Looking forward, we want to open up the pub as a meeting space for local groups and to help raise funds for charities as well as put on family fun days.”
Coach & Horses
Closed for a year, The Coach & Horses had a poor reputation and few customers before its £300,000 transformation into a top-quality family and dog-friendly local serving freshly prepared food. The pub’s new direction has attracted neighbouring residents and made it a destination dining spot with sell-out Sunday lunches for people from across Carlisle.
Coach & Horses
“People avoided the pub for years. Their chins hit the floor when they saw the change; they love the classy new look and warm, welcoming feel. We were mobbed when the pub opened – locals are delighted to have a place to go on their doorsteps. Food is nearly 50% of our trade but being able to come in for drinks or to watch sports is equally important to customers. The pub is a lifeline for some of our older regulars – it’s part of their routine where they can meet their friends. Our experience reflects Star’s research, which shows people are going out less but want better quality when they do, including a lovely environment. By adapting accordingly, The Coach & Horses is back on the map as the busy popular local it was in its heyday.”