The Rose & Thistle in Reading, Berkshire opened last week (Thursday 24 November), after being closed for more than two years amid the pandemic.
The investment included a renovation to the pub and its garden, which now features beach huts and covered outdoor seating, alongside new wooden furniture.
Sport will be a key focus at the site meaning Sky Sports and BT Sports subscriptions are in place as well as a dart board.
Clear choice
It will have a new menu of pub classics on offer and an extensive drinks list from standard and premium lagers and ciders, stouts, ales alongside a range of spirits, wines, soft drinks and alcohol-free options.
The pub’s franchisee Paul Antony Billington said: “With the proven concept, full backing of Greene King and major investment, taking on Hive Pub as a franchisee was the clear choice for me.
“Plus, I have the security of guaranteed income and share of turnover and profits.”
The franchise concept has a £5,000 ingoing cost where licensees get a weekly paid income, a percentage of food and drink sales, a share in the profits of the pub and the chance to get a bonus.
More openings
Greene King Pub Partners managing director Wayne Shurvinton added: “With our £500,000 investment, the Rose & Thistle is our biggest Hive Pub transformation yet.
“It is another significant milestone in the rollout of Hive Pubs and our franchise team have done a great job. We continue to push forward with more openings.”
In July this year, Shurvinton told The Morning Advertiser the business was planning to reach 30 sites this year with the Hive Pubs branch.
Hive was launched by the pubco in November last year, which at the time it said was “a branded community pub model”.
