Two locals in Flamborough and one in Snaith are set for transformations as part of the Heineken investment
The Royal Dog and Duck in Flamborough is set to become “a standout destination” through new investments.(Image: Star Pubs)
A pub giant is pumping a whopping £555,000 into Humber pubs this year as part of a multimillion-pound package of improvements. Heineken is ploughing the six-figure sum into a number of pubs, with licensees also adding a further £45,000 on top of their own investment.
The cash pot from Heineken – which has 2,350 leased pubs through its Star Pubs division – includes money to carry out substantial revamps at three well known locals. The trio of hostelries includes The Ship Inn at Flamborough, which is reopening after a long-term closure, The Black Lion in Snaith and The Royal Dog & Duck, also in Flamborough.
A major refurbishment investment of around £270,000 is planned to transform The Ship Inn into a premium seaside local pub with food, sport and entertainment at its heart. Star Pubs is carrying out a full refurbishment throughout all trading areas and toilets, while also redeveloping the kitchen to support a stronger food offer.
Outside, the pub will benefit from fresh signage, a repaint to the ground floor exterior, full window repairs, and a renovated beer garden. The firm said the investment aims to position The Ship Inn as “a warm and welcoming destination for both residents and visitors to this busy coastal village”.
At The Black Lion in Snaith a £100,000 investment is planned to transform the venue, with a refurbishment to cover the full interior decorations and sports upgrades alongside external redecoration, repairs, and new signage. The firm said the refurbishment will make it stand out as a well-backed community hub with sport at its heart.
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Meanwhile, The Royal Dog & Duck, Flamborough, near Bridlington, will undergo a refurbishment project of around £120,000 to cover an internal upgrade and new signage and repaint externally. The firm said the light touch refurbishment will preserve the pub’s classic charm while improving key areas to support smoother trading, adding “with its community-led feel, prime village location and cosy interior, the Royal Dog & Duck is set to be a standout destination for those seeking a classic seaside pub experience.”
The local investments form part of wider £44.5m investment to upgrade 647 pubs this year. The 2026 programme of investments includes the complete transformation of 108 pubs costing £145,000 or more – and it will also create an estimated 850 jobs.
The move by Heineken comes at a critical time for the hospitality industry, which has counted at least two pub closures a day in the first quarter of 2026, according to new figures. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) says latest figures show 161 pubs closed in the first three months of this year across England, Scotland and Wales, also resulting in some 2,400 jobs lost. A separate piece of research – the latest Hospitality Market Monitor from NIQ – showed that there were 98,609 sites at the end of March, a drop of 305 compared to December.
However, Star Pubs has fewer closed pubs than before the pandemic. With hospitality businesses finding it tough to secure finance in the current climate, bosses said the investment is providing a lifeline.
Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs’ managing director, said: “Pubs are a fantastic institution, admired the world over. We’re proud to be a leading investor in Britain’s independently operated locals and to be playing a part in securing their future along with our dedicated and entrepreneurial licensees.
“Investment is essential if pubs are to remain a first choice for people looking for somewhere to socialise. It is also critical for pubs needing to generate extra revenue to fund the sustained increases in running costs they’ve faced in recent years. However, we can only do so much; the root-and-branch reform of business rates that the industry has been calling for over many years is urgently required, as well as a lowering of the burden of taxation on pubs – including VAT and beer duty.
“We are calling on the Government to support us in bringing out the best in the Great British pub. Importantly, this investment will create flexible job opportunities in communities across Yorkshire and the country more widely and give many young people their first taste of the world of work.”
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