Greene King has revealed its intention to launch 30 new franchise pubs within the year. The company recently achieved a significant milestone by establishing 100 franchise Hive and Nest concept pubs.
In 2025, Greene King Pub Partners introduced 30 fresh franchise pubs, marking its entry into Scotland under the Belhaven brand for the first time. The upcoming year, 2026, will witness the expansion of Greene King’s franchise operations into Wales and the Southwest of England through a series of new openings.
Several locations have already been confirmed for this year, including Millwrights in Aylesbury, The Freemasons Arms in Wigan, and The Flag Inn in Egerton.
Among the franchise pubs opened by Greene King in 2025 are The Tarbet in Edinburgh, which became the initial Greene King franchise pub in Scotland following a £285,000 refurbishment. Additionally, The Dolphin in Melbourn was reopened as a Hive pub after a £570,000 investment, and the Two Poplars in Wokingham debuted after a £450,000 transformation.
Penelope Bruce, the Pub Partners Franchise Operations Director, expressed delight at reaching the milestone of 100 franchise pubs. She highlighted the continuous growth of their franchise offer since the launch of their first Hive Pub over four years ago.
Greene King Pub Partners Managing Director, Dan Robinson, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing expansion of their franchise business, which complements their successful leased and tenanted pub business.
In other news, Greene King recently distributed complimentary pints of Guinness as the Six Nations rugby tournament commenced. To claim a free pint, individuals were required to reserve a table for any Six Nations game on February 7 through the Greene King website.
The offer was available at all Greene King sports pubs, including Flaming Grill, Hungry Horse, and Belhaven, as part of the new Fans Reunited campaign featuring Rugby World Cup winners Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson.
Zoe Bowley, Managing Director for Greene King pubs, emphasized the role of sport and the pub atmosphere in uniting people. The Fans Reunited initiative, launched alongside the Guinness Six Nations, aimed to bring fans back together over a free pint and foster connections among old friends through shared sports experiences.