Greene King has unveiled plans to launch 30 new franchise pubs this year, marking a significant expansion in its pub network. The company recently achieved a milestone of 100 franchise Hive and Nest concept pubs.
During 2025, Greene King Pub Partners introduced 30 new franchise pubs, including the debut of the Belhaven brand in Scotland. Looking ahead to 2026, the company is set to broaden its franchise footprint into Wales and the Southwest of England with a series of upcoming 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 pub additions in 2025 included The Tarbet in Edinburgh, the first Greene King franchise pub in Scotland following a £285,000 renovation.
Penelope Bruce, Pub Partners Franchise Operations Director, expressed excitement over reaching the milestone of 100 franchise pubs and highlighted the continued growth of their franchise offerings. Greene King Pub Partners Managing Director, Dan Robinson, emphasized the positive trajectory of the franchise business, which complements their successful leased and tenanted pub operations.
In a recent initiative, Greene King offered free pints of Guinness during the Six Nations rugby tournament kickoff weekend. To claim a free pint, patrons had to reserve a table for any Six Nations game on February 7 through the Greene King website. This promotion was available at all Greene King sports pubs, including Flaming Grill, Hungry Horse, and Belhaven, as part of the Fans Reunited campaign featuring Rugby World Cup champions Martin Johnson and Jason Robinson.
Zoe Bowley, Managing Director for Greene King pubs, highlighted the Fans Reunited campaign’s aim to celebrate the unifying role of sports and pub culture in bringing people together. By offering a complimentary pint during the Guinness Six Nations, the campaign sought to encourage shared experiences among fans and foster connections between old acquaintances through the love of the game.