Lincoln Green Brewery adds sixth pub with Star Pubs & Bars acquisition

Brewery, Lincoln Green Brewery and Pub Company, has taken the lease on The Railway Hotel at Belper in Derbyshire, increasing its pub estate to six sites.

The Railway is Lincoln Green’s second leased pub with Star Pubs & Bars and closes this week for a joint £275,000 refurbishment. Following its refurbishment, the pub will stock eight Lincoln Green cask and craft ales, with 20 beers and ciders on tap.

Whilst Star is a major partner in the investment and is overseeing the work, The Railway will be refurbished in the style of Lincoln Green, using the brewery’s contractors and designers.

The project will see the outside of the pub completely redecorated, and with a shortage of pub gardens in the town, The Railway’s car park will be converted into a garden with beach huts, covers, heating and lighting for all-weather and year-round use.

Inside, work will retain the original features of the pub and will have a spacious bar and areas of seating in the pub’s lounge and snugs. Other changes will include installing a new kitchen to enable the introduction of fresh pub food and upgrading the cellar with SmartDispense.

Billed as the first pub in Belper to specialise in craft ale, The Railway will have four craft beers on tap along with eight cask ales and eight lagers and ciders from the Heineken portfolio. A wide range of gins, whiskies and wines will also be served. Lincoln Green says it is looking to take on further leased pubs where it can stock its beers in the East Midlands.

Lincoln Green Brewery and Pub Company founder, Anthony Hughes, said: “In a competitive brewing market, having pubs is a real asset. As well as providing an outlet for our ales, they enable us to control quality and showcase our products to customers in the best possible condition. Our rate of growth will be dependent on finding the right pubs, but we envisage opening 10 more over the next decade.

“As a brewer, the leased model is ideal; it ties up minimum capital and leaves us free to invest in our brewery operations. Our partnership with Star works well. Their focus on investment and their flexibility on stocking are key. Heineken’s product range complements ours. Whilst we want to stock our own craft and cask ales, we also like to serve a couple of great nationally recognised brands alongside; they give credibility to the bar and confidence to less adventurous drinkers.”

Star Pubs & Bars North Midlands operations director, Alun Johnson, said: “Lincoln Green are first class pub operators. Their brewing background gives each pub a USP and point of difference with customers. And their focus on product quality extends to every area of their pubs. It’s exciting to be working with them on another project.”