Belhaven Pub Partners has opened its first franchise pub in Scotland.
The Tarbet in Edinburgh – formally known as The Centurion – has re-opened as a ‘Nest Pub’ following a reported £285,000 investment by the chain.
Earlier this year, Greene King Pub Partners, the leased, tenanted, and franchise division of Greene King within which Belhaven Pub Partners sits, announced plans to bring its franchise pub concepts to Scotland for the first time.
During its refurbishment, The Tarbet’s bar was relocated to create ‘a more spacious, open-plan layout’, alongside significant interior and exterior upgrades in line with the Nest Pubs look and feel.
Under the franchise, The Tarbet will offer Sky Sports, TNT Sport and Premier Sports, alongside a regular calendar of entertainment ranging from pub quizzes to live music and karaoke.
It will stock a wide drinks range, including beer, ale, wines, spirits, coffee and low and no options, as well as local favourites like Tennent’s, Innis & Gunn and Belhaven Best.
Central to the Nest Pubs concept, the pub will also provide easy to serve pizzas as a food option for pub-goers.
The Tarbet will be operated by franchisee Nola Enterprises, led by Pauline Huggins and Karen Robertson, the team that previously operated the pub when it was known as The Centurion.
The Tarbet was described as the first ‘in a pipeline of openings’ across Scotland Belhaven Pub Partners has planned this year, as Greene King looks to continue the expansion of its Hive Pub and Nest Pub franchises.
Operations director for Greene King Pub Partners, Penny Baldwin, said: “We’re delighted to have our first franchise pub in Scotland up and running!
“Our franchise pubs provide a cost-effective and straightforward way to run your own pub business with a full suite of support from Belhaven and Greene King.
“We are actively searching for franchise Partners in Scotland and across England as well. Anyone with pub management experience who is interested in running their own pub business should get in touch.”
Licensees Huggins and Robertson commented: “We are so proud to become the first Belhaven Pub Partners franchisees. The franchise agreement and Nest Pubs concept mean we have a ready-to-trade pub business with full investment and support from Belhaven Pub Partners.
“Having previously operated The Tarbet on a tenancy basis when it was known as The Centurion, we are excited for this next chapter where we can continue to serve the community we are so close to with this brilliant new franchise concept, the very first in Scotland!”
