GREENE King Pub Partners has unveiled the latest stage in its Hive Pubs concept with the introduction of a standardised core menu.
A franchise model, Hive Pubs was launched by Greene King in 2021. The model offers incoming franchisees a ‘ready to trade pub’ for a cost of £5000, with the franchisee receiving a guaranteed income of £20,000 as well as a percentage of food and drink sales and a share of the pub’s profits.
Earlier this year the pubco secured accreditation from the British Franchise Association.
Hive Pubs only currently account for around 30 of Greene King’s 1000 pubs, but the company has plans to expand the concept to more properties.
The new food offer will see the majority of Hive pubs offering a core menu of pub classics as well as popular options such as katsu curry, flatbreads and tacos, while pubs with a smaller food focus will provide a simplified menu with a smaller selection of dishes. Those franchisees wanting to offer a more significant food range can include dishes such as risotto, lamb shank and an Eton mess sundae on their menu.
There will also be seasonal specials and promotions included across the Hive estate.
“These new menus are an exciting and important step in the development of Hive Pubs and our franchise offer as a whole,” said Dan Robinson, managing director of Greene King Pub Partners.
“The menus and enticing promotions will appeal to customers, enabling our franchisees to grow their revenues. Seasonal specials also mean franchisees can showcase their creativity and get innovative with their menus. Already our franchisees are seeing the impact of the new menus, with like-for-like sales and spend per head all increasing since their introduction.”
Meanwhile, the wider Greene King organisation has introduced its first gender identity policy.
The policy – introduced in support of the company’s LGBTQ+ employees and the wider community – will include offering support and reassurance to team members who are transitioning or identify as a different gender to which they were born.
