Greene King launches first Wales franchise expands franchise pub business into Wales with reopening of The Clive in Cardiff
Greene King has expanded its franchise pub business into Wales with the reopening of The Clive in Cardiff as a new Nest Pub following a £350,000 refurbishment investment.
The relaunch marks the first of a planned pipeline of franchise pub openings in Wales this year as Greene King continues to grow its franchise division through its Nest Pubs and Hive Pubs concepts.
Located in Cardiff, The Clive has undergone a full refurbishment to bring the venue in line with the Nest Pubs format. The investment has transformed the pub’s internal trading areas with updated décor, stylish new furniture and a contemporary finish throughout.
A major feature of the refurbishment is a newly created sports zone, which includes four new dart boards and two interactive darts lanes designed to enhance the customer experience. The pub garden has also been upgraded to support year-round trading.
As part of the Nest Pubs concept, The Clive will offer live sport through Sky Sports and TNT Sports, alongside a regular entertainment programme featuring pub quizzes, karaoke and live music events.
The venue will also serve a broad drinks selection, including low and no-alcohol options, while a new pizza menu forms part of the pub’s food offer.
The Clive will be operated by local franchisee Nathan Sutton, who has previously managed several pubs across Cardiff and brings extensive experience of the city’s hospitality sector.
Greene King said it plans to open two additional franchise pubs in Wales later this year and is currently recruiting operators with leased, tenanted or managed pub experience who are seeking a lower-cost route into pub ownership.
The company said prospective franchisees in Wales can take over a franchise pub from an ingoing cost of £3,000, which includes agreement fees, induction and on-site training. Franchise partners earn a percentage of food and drink sales, with further opportunities for profit-sharing and performance-related bonuses.
Nest Pubs are described by Greene King as wet-led community pubs located in busy high street and neighbourhood locations, focused on live sport, entertainment and value-driven drinks alongside a simple pizza food offering.
Hive Pubs, Greene King’s second franchise model, are community-focused pubs offering food, drinks, live sport and entertainment in local neighbourhood settings.
Penny Bruce, Operations Director for Greene King Pub Partners, said: “It is wonderful to have our franchise business up and running in Wales for the first time.
“As we continue to grow our franchise business through our Nest Pubs and Hive Pubs concepts, we see the opportunity for more franchise pubs in Wales.
“Hive Pubs and Nest Pubs provide a cost-effective and straightforward way to run your own pub business with a full suite of support from Greene King.
“We are actively searching for franchise partners in Wales, Scotland and England. Anyone with pub management experience who is interested in running their own pub business should get in touch.”
Nathan Sutton, franchisee of The Clive, added: “We are so proud to become the first Greene King franchise operators in Wales.
“Thanks to the investment of Greene King, The Clive has been fully renovated and refurbished and we cannot wait to reopen for the local community.
“Greene King’s franchise agreement really helped us break through the barriers we faced to entrepreneurship. The Nest Pubs concept, along with the BDM support and ongoing training, mean we can really thrive in running our own pub business.”
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