A former Greene King managed pub, the Otter in Drayton, near Norwich, has reopened as the Old Mill after a £445,000 investment, operated by franchisees Mark and Carol Wenn.
Meanwhile the Broken Cross in Rudheath, Cheshire, has also reopened as a Hive Pub after a £525,000 investment by Greene King Pub Partners and will be operated by franchisees Samantha and Nick Garland.
Both investments have seen each pub fully upgraded in line with the Hive Pubs franchise proposition, including upgraded bars and décor throughout both sites.
Growing business
As Hive Pubs, the Old Mill and the Broken Cross will serve a series of “signature” dishes exclusively available in Hive Pubs that feature “Hot Honey”, as well as Hive Pubs specific offers such as Pizza and Moretti Wednesdays and a steak dinner for two offer on Thursdays.
The two new additions bring the total number of Hive Pubs, which was recently awarded Sustainability Champion status by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII), to 57.
Greene King Pub Partners managing director Dan Robinson said: “We’re delighted to open these two more Hive Pubs, which takes us up to 57 Hive Pubs in total and we intend to open more Hive Pubs and Nest Pubs in the coming months, whilst also continuing to support our excellent leased and tenanted operators to grow their businesses.”
Proven concept
A Hive Pubs franchise agreement offers licensees a ready-to-trade pub within a proven branded concept for just £5,000 ingoing cost.
Franchisees can expect a minimum guaranteed income of £20,000 and they also get a percentage of food and drink sales. On top of this, they get a share of the profits in their pub and can earn a bonus as well.
Earlier this year, Greene King Pub Partners announced the launch of its second franchise concept, Nest Pubs, a more wet-led franchise pub offer with lower ingoing costs for franchisees that now boasts six sites.
In addition, last month Greene King announced plans to launch a new entertainment-led pub concept called HighTales, set to launch later this year.
