Greene King has revealed its intention to launch 30 new franchise pubs in the upcoming year. The company recently achieved a significant milestone by reaching 100 franchise Hive and Nest concept pubs.
In the previous year, Greene King Pub Partners introduced 30 new franchise pubs, marking its entry into Scotland with the Belhaven brand. Looking ahead to 2026, the company plans to extend its franchise operations to Wales and the Southwest of England with a series of new openings.
Among the confirmed locations for this year are Millwrights in Aylesbury, The Freemasons Arms in Wigan, and The Flag Inn in Egerton.
Notable franchise openings in 2025 included The Tarbet in Edinburgh, the first 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, Pub Partners Franchise Operations Director, expressed excitement about reaching 100 franchise pubs and emphasized the growing demand for pub franchise agreements. Greene King Pub Partners Managing Director, Dan Robinson, praised the continuous expansion of the franchise business, highlighting its synergy with the company’s successful leased and tenanted pub operations.
To coincide with the start of the Six Nations rugby tournament, Greene King offered free pints of Guinness at its sports pubs, including Flaming Grill, Hungry Horse, and Belhaven. This initiative was part of the Fans Reunited campaign, featuring Rugby World Cup champions Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson.
Zoe Bowley, Managing Director for Greene King pubs, spoke about the Fans Reunited campaign’s goal of fostering connections through sports and the pub experience. By offering a complimentary pint during the Guinness Six Nations, the company aims to facilitate reunions and shared moments of joy among fans and friends.