The company has already invested £2.7 million in its kitchens since 2015, with another £1.8 million spent on building work, compliance and pub services, which it says has benefitted 153 of its licensees.
Star Pubs & Bars designed the policy to enable its sites to offer a ‘stronger food service’ and it says that the number of sites offering food is up to 70% as a result of the investment.
Matt Dyson, head of business support, said: “We want to attract the right operators with the right offer to invest in their pubs to provide them with the support needed to be successful. That means putting in place robust and reliable, good-quality commercial kitchen equipment that can cater for volume.
“Our unique fixtures and fittings policy means licensees have access to kitchen equipment, which can be prohibitive for them to buy. It frees up cash flow and ensures kitchens are kitted-out properly and that high energy efficiency-rated equipment is used.
“Our approach to kitchen investment is to invest for the long-term – to build kitchens that allow businesses to grow. This helps make Star pubs competitive, more sustainable and increases licensees profit.”
Star Pubs & Bars is Heineken’s leased pub business which is made up of an estate of around 1,100 pubs throughout the UK.