Greene King to open 30 new pubs in major expansion plan
Greene King Pub Partners has reached 100 franchise pubs across the UK, marking a major expansion milestone for the brewer’s franchise division.
The feat comes just over four years after the company launched its first Hive Pub concept in late 2021.
Greene King said the franchise arm of its business continues to expand as demand for franchise pub opportunities grows across the UK.
Penelope Bruce, franchise operations director at Greene King Pub Partners, said: “We are over the moon to have hit the magic number of 100 franchise pubs.”
Ms Bruce said: “Just over four years on from launching our very first Hive Pub, our franchise offer continues to grow.”
The company expanded its franchise offering further in 2024 with the launch of its Nest Pubs concept, designed to provide additional entry routes for prospective pub operators.
During 2025, Greene King opened 30 new franchise pubs, marking one of the division’s busiest years since launch.
The company also expanded geographically, entering the Scottish market for the first time through its Belhaven brand.
It comes just over four years after the company launched
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The Tarbet in Edinburgh became Greene King’s first Scottish franchise pub following a £285,000 refurbishment investment.
In England, The Dolphin in Melbourn reopened as a Hive Pub after a £570,000 investment into the venue.
The Two Poplars in Wokingham also reopened following a £450,000 refurbishment programme.
Greene King said these investments form part of its wider strategy to modernise venues and drive customer demand across its estate.
Greene King said these investments form part of its wider strategy to modernise venues and drive customer demand
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The company said 2026 is expected to deliver further expansion, with plans to open another 30 Hive Pubs and Nest Pubs during the year.
For the first time, Greene King plans to expand its franchise model into Wales and the South West of England.
The company said several openings are already scheduled for early 2026, including Millwrights in Aylesbury, The Freemasons Arms in Wigan and The Flag Inn in Egerton.
Ms Bruce said: “After expanding into Scotland for the first time, we have plans to launch in Wales in 2026 as we open 30 more franchise pubs.”
Greene King said the expansion is part of a strategy to bring its franchise pub model to new regions across the UK.
The company said franchise opportunities are available from around £3,000, which covers agreement fees, induction and initial training.
Under the franchise model, operators typically earn income through a share of food and drink sales, with additional earning potential through profit-sharing and performance incentives.
Greene King has also expanded its support structure to manage franchise growth, including appointing two new business development managers to support a wider geographical area.
Greene King said it was delighted with the ongoing growth of their franchise business
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The company has also promoted an existing franchise business development manager to operations manager, overseeing a team of five.
Ms Bruce said: “We continue to see lots of interest in our pub franchise agreements from experienced pub managers looking to take the step up and run their own pub business.”
Dan Robinson, managing director at Greene King Pub Partners, said: “We are delighted with the ongoing growth of our franchise business, which continues to complement our very successful leased and tenanted pub business.”
Greene King said it expects franchise growth to remain a key part of its long-term strategy as the company expands its presence across the UK pub market.
