Greene King has revealed its intention to launch 30 new franchise pubs within the year. The pub group recently achieved a significant milestone by reaching 100 franchise Hive and Nest concept pubs.
In 2025, Greene King Pub Partners introduced 30 new franchise pubs, marking the entry into Scotland under the Belhaven brand for the first time. The company is now set to extend its franchise operations to Wales and the Southwest of England in 2026 through a series of new openings.
Among the confirmed locations for the current year are Millwrights in Aylesbury, The Freemasons Arms in Wigan, and The Flag Inn in Egerton.
Notable Greene King franchise pub openings in 2025 included The Tarbet in Edinburgh, the first Greene King franchise pub in Scotland following a £285,000 renovation. 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 excitement over reaching 100 franchise pubs and the continuous growth of their franchise offer. After the successful expansion into Scotland, the company plans to launch in Wales in 2026, aiming to open 30 more franchise pubs.
Dan Robinson, the Managing Director of Greene King Pub Partners, commended the ongoing growth of the franchise business, emphasizing its complementarity to the leased and tenanted pub business.
In a separate initiative, Greene King offered free pints of Guinness last weekend at the commencement of the Six Nations rugby tournament. To claim the free pint, patrons had to book a table for any Six Nations game on February 7 through the Greene King website.
The promotion 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, the Managing Director for Greene King pubs, highlighted the role of sport and the pub atmosphere in fostering connections among people. The Fans Reunited campaign, launched alongside the Guinness Six Nations, aimed to reunite fans with a free pint offer, encouraging shared moments over the game.
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