Star Light, which is JDW’s second unit at Heathrow Airport and eighth UK airport site, welcomed customers for the first time today (Monday 2 October).
JDW invested £500,000 into developing the pub, which is situated in Heathrow’s terminal 4 (airside) on the former Carluccio’s site.
With seating for approximately 140 customers, the new venue has created some 60 full and part-time jobs and will be open from before the first flight at the airport until after the last flight each day.
Proud association
JDW chief executive John Hutson said: “We are pleased to have opened Star Light.
“We have operated units at Heathrow Airport since 1991 and are proud of our association with one of the world’s largest airports.”
The pubco explained the venue was named after the first civil aircraft to land at Heathrow towards the end of World War II after land in and around the site was requisitioned for the international airport.
Last week, JDW appointed Savills and CBRE to sell 11 of its 822 pubs.
Tax disadvantages
The sites, which comprise a mix of 10 freeholds and one leasehold unit, are located in town and city centre locations across England and Wales and are being considered for sale either individually, in small packages or as a portfolio.
In addition, earlier this month the pubco announced it would cut prices by 7.5% for a day to highlight how a permanent VAT reduction would be of immense benefit for the hospitality sector.
JDW founder and chairman Tim Martin labelled the disparity in tax paid by the on-trade and off-trade as “the biggest threat” to the sector and called on the Chancellor to create tax equality between pubs and supermarkets.
He added: “Pubs have been under fantastic pressure for decades, because of the tax disadvantages they have with supermarkets.”
