Greene King

What Greene King does

Greene King is a UK-headquartered pub, brewing, and hospitality company founded in 1799 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and one of the country's largest pub operators with an estate of approximately 2,600 pubs, restaurants, and hotels across England, Scotland, and Wales. The company operates a portfolio of differentiated sub-brands spanning value to premium positioning, including Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer, Farmhouse Inns, Flaming Grill, Greene King Inns, Metropolitan Pub Company, and Wacky Warehouse, alongside the Belhaven Scottish brand. Its core technology layer consists of the Order & Pay mobile application with integrated loyalty rewards, gamification, sports preference tracking, and a personalisation engine that processes behavioural and transactional data to deliver targeted offers across the estate.

Greene King generates revenue through managed pub operations, franchise and tenanted pub royalties, brewery and wholesale beer sales, hotel accommodation, and digital ordering transactions. Distribution is primarily through its owned and franchised physical estate, supported by a long-term GXO Logistics partnership, a new Middleton supply chain depot, and the Value for Venues wholesale platform. The customer base is broadly diversified across consumer segments — families, sports enthusiasts, business travellers, and dog owners — with no material customer concentration. The company is also pursuing a partnership-driven accessibility initiative with Carlsberg, Liverpool FC, and the British Deaf Association.

In early 2026, Greene King announced a significant estate restructuring: plans to sell up to 150 managed pubs, close approximately 20, and convert roughly 150 managed pubs to tenanted or franchise models, alongside a £35 million digital investment programme. The same year, the company divested the Old Speckled Hen brand to Spanish brewer Damm (relocating production to Bedford) and expanded its Hive & Nest franchise programme into Wales and Southwest England. These moves are framed as responses to rising input and labour costs, inflationary pressure, and shifting consumer habits in the UK pub sector.

Name

Greene King

Legal name

Greene King Brewing and Retailing Limited

Website

https://greeneking.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1799

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Greene King is one of the UK's largest pub, brewing, and hospitality operators, running approximately 2,600 pubs, restaurants, and hotels under multiple sub-brands across England, Scotland, and Wales, serving broad consumer segments with food, drink, accommodation, sports viewing, and a digital ordering and loyalty platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pub and Brewery Hospitality Services

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Pub operations
• Brewing services
• Hospitality management
• Franchise restaurants
• Pub hotel accommodation

Headquarters

HQ city

Bury Saint Edmunds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Managed Pub Operations: Revenue from company-owned and operated pubs and restaurants serving food and drink directly to consumers. These are managed directly by Greene King staff.
2. Franchise and Tenanted Pubs: Revenue from franchisees and tenants who operate Greene King branded pubs, paying royalties or rent. Hive and Nest franchise concepts are growing, with 100 milestone reached and plans for 30 new franchise pubs in 2026.
3. Brewery Operations: Brewing and sale of own-beer brands including Greene King IPA, Abbot Ale, Old Speckled Hen (sold to Damm in 2026), Belhaven brands. Old Speckled Hen production moving to Damm's Bedford brewery.
4. Hotel Operations: Accommodation services at pub-hotels including Venture Hotels collection, with rooms available at various Greene King venues.
5. Digital Ordering and Delivery: Revenue through Order & Pay App where customers order and pay directly, with the company taking the transaction value minus any promotional discounts offered.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Greene King operates, manages, and franchises a network of approximately 2,600 pubs, restaurants, and hotels across the UK under multiple sub-brands (Hungry Horse, Chef & Brewer, Farmhouse Inns, Flaming Grill, Greene King Inns, Metropolitan Pub Company, Wacky Warehouse, Belhaven, Venture Hotels). It also brews and sells own-label and licensed ales through its Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds and via wholesale channels, and operates a digital ordering, payment, and loyalty platform through its mobile app.

Product overview

Greene King is a UK pub and brewery operator offering a portfolio of multiple sub-brands under a unified corporate umbrella, serving food, drinks, accommodation, and entertainment across approximately 2,600 pubs, restaurants, and hotels. The core brand Greene King Pubs anchors the estate alongside sub-brands including Chef & Brewer (premium dining), Farmhouse Inns (family carvery), Hungry Horse (value), Flaming Grill (sports), Greene King Inns (accommodation), Metropolitan Pub Company (urban premium), and Wacky Warehouse (family entertainment). The company operates its own brewery (Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds, though Old Speckled Hen production is transferring to Damm), and manages a franchise programme (Hive & Nest). Digital customer engagement is delivered via the Greene King Pubs & Restaurants mobile app with integrated ordering, payment, and loyalty rewards (Spin to Win, Pub Match). Supply chain operations are supported by GXO Logistics under a 10-year partnership and a dedicated depot in Middleton. The business also participates in the UK's Great British Summer Savings VAT initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Old Speckled Hen: Ale brand originally brewed at Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds. Sold to Damm UK in May 2026.
• Greene King IPA
• Level Head
• Hazy Day

Products and services

• Greene King Pubs Core Greene King pub brand representing local community pubs across the UK offering food, drinks, and live sport, serving individual consumers and families.
• Chef & Brewer Premium pub-dining sub-brand offering quality food and a broader menu in a pub setting for individual consumers seeking a higher-end dining experience.
• Farmhouse Inns Family-focused pub and carvery brand offering carvery roasts, children's menus, and family-friendly facilities including play areas for families and general consumers.
• Hungry Horse Value-oriented pub brand offering affordable food and drinks with sports viewing and entertainment for value-conscious consumers.
• Flaming Grill Sports-focused pub brand with big screens showing live sport (football, rugby) alongside food service for sports enthusiasts and individual consumers.
• Greene King Inns Inn portfolio offering accommodation alongside pub and dining services in historic UK locations for leisure tourists, business travellers, and individual guests.
• Metropolitan Pub Company Premium urban pub brand offering quality food and drinks in city-centre and metropolitan locations for individual urban consumers.
• Wacky Warehouse Family entertainment concept offering indoor soft play areas and children's activities integrated into selected Greene King pub sites for families with children.
• Hive & Nest Franchise Programme Franchise programme allowing experienced pub managers to run their own Greene King branded pub businesses under the Hive and Nest concepts in exchange for royalties.
• Belhaven Brand Scottish beer and pub brand offering traditional Scottish ales (Belhaven Best, Belhaven Black, Belhaven Twisted Thistle) and Belhaven pub sites in Scotland.
• Old Speckled Hen Traditional British ale brand originally brewed at Greene King's Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds; now in process of divestiture to Damm UK.
• Greene King Pubs & Restaurants App Mobile application for iOS and Android that lets customers discover pubs across multiple Greene King brands, save favourites, browse menus, book ahead, order and pay at table, and engage with loyalty rewards.
• Greene King Loyalty & Rewards Programme App-based loyalty programme featuring Spin to Win new-customer promotions, Pub Match gamification with monthly leaderboards and prizes, and sports-themed promotions (Fans Reunited, Sport Mayhem) offering discounts and free drinks during sporting fixtures.
• Venture Hotels (Everly Hotels Collection) Pub-hotel accommodation collection offering overnight stays at various Greene King venues for business travellers and leisure guests.
• Value for Venues Wholesale Wholesale distribution platform selling Greene King brewery products (and partner brands) to other licensed venues, retailers, and free trade operators across the UK.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3.2% increase in sales to £2.45bn in 2024 despite challenging trading environment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Damm (SA Damm)majorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 19 May 2026Greene King agreed to sell its Old Speckled Hen beer brand to Damm UK, a subsidiary of Spanish brewer SA Damm (owner of Estrella lager). The deal will lead to a long-term closure of Greene King's Westgate Brewery in Bury St Edmunds with production relocated to Damm's new brewery in Bedford. Greene King will continue brewing the ale during a transition period.
• CarlsbergcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026Carlsberg partnered with Greene King Sport and the British Deaf Association for the 'Signs of Unity' initiative at Liverpool FC. The partnership provides British Sign Language training to pub staff at 16 Greene King Sport pubs across Merseyside, with plans to expand the trial to 15 more pubs by May 2026. Carlsberg also provides BSL interpreters at every LFC home match.
• British Deaf AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026Partnership with Carlsberg and Liverpool FC for the 'Signs of Unity' initiative to make matchday experience accessible for Deaf and hard-of-hearing fans. Includes BSL training for Greene King pub staff and ongoing BSL interpreter provision at matches.
• Liverpool Football ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 February 2026Carlsberg and Liverpool FC launched the 'Signs of Unity' initiative under LFC's 'Red Together' diversity strategy, teaching fans to perform 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in British Sign Language. Greene King Sport is a partner providing staff training and pub venues for the accessibility initiative.
• GXO LogisticscoreOthers · 13 February 2026GXO Logistics and Greene King signed a 10-year extension to their logistics partnership covering supply chain operations across the UK. The renewed agreement continues a relationship spanning more than 20 years, with more than 700 GXO employees supporting deliveries of food, drink and equipment to Greene King's estate of more than 2,600 pubs across England, Scotland and Wales. The arrangement creates a more flexible and scalable supply chain.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mitchells & Butlers: UK-listed multi-brand pub and restaurant operator behind Harvester, Toby Carvery, All Bar One and Miller & Carter. The closest direct peer in scale, multi-brand structure, and managed/tenanted operating mix to Greene King.
• Stonegate Pub Company: Privately held UK pub group owning brands such as Slug & Lettuce, Walkabout and Yates's. Comparable to Greene King as a large, multi-brand pub operator with managed and tenanted models.
• Marston's: UK pub operator and brewer with national reach across managed, franchised and tenanted pubs. Directly comparable to Greene King's combination of brewing heritage and pub estate scale.
• Young's: London-focused pub operator and brewer running managed pubs, hotels and a brewing business. Comparable to Greene King on the integrated brewery-and-pub model, though with a more premium, regional focus.
• Fuller, Smith & Turner: Historic London brewer and pub operator with a managed and tenanted estate plus in-house brewing. Overlaps with Greene King on heritage brewing, branded ale portfolio and pub operations.
• JD Wetherspoon: Largest single-brand UK pub chain, operating ~800 managed pubs nationwide. A direct competitor for footfall, value-leaning customers and digital ordering scale.
• Admiral Taverns: UK's leading tenanted and leased pub operator with around 1,000 sites. Comparable to Greene King's tenanted/franchise arm and the destination for many of the managed pubs Greene King is converting.
• Punch Pubs & Co: UK tenanted and managed pub operator with an estate of roughly 1,200 venues. Overlaps with Greene King on estate rationalisation strategy, supply chain logistics, and partnership-led operating models.

Broad incumbents

• Heineken UK (Star Pubs & Bars): Pub division of Heineken UK, operating Star Pubs & Bars as a large tenanted estate. Comparable to Greene King's tenanted model, and a major wholesale supplier of drinks to UK pubs.
• Diageo: Global drinks giant supplying beer, spirits and cider into UK on-trade. Relevant as a wholesale partner and category competitor to Greene King's own beer brands, but operates as a supplier rather than a direct pub operator.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/greenekingcareers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/greeneking
• Xx.com/greeneking

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A9 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Greene King