Heineken Leeds Pubs Get £3.16m Yorkshire Investment in 2026

Heineken Leeds pubs investment sees £3.16m going into 17 Yorkshire venues as part of a £44.5m national programme, with The New Inn at Eccup and The Tommy Wass near Elland Road among those benefiting

Heineken UK is investing £3.16 million in 17 Yorkshire pubs this year as part of a £44.5 million national programme across its 2,350-strong Star Pubs estate. The Heineken Leeds pubs benefiting include The New Inn at Eccup and The Tommy Wass near Elland Road, with licensees adding a further £165,000 of their own money on top. The programme is expected to create 88 new jobs across Yorkshire. Nationally, 647 pubs will be upgraded in 2026, including the complete transformation of 108 venues costing £145,000 or more. Heineken says it has invested more than £328 million in British pubs since 2018.

Why This Matters For Leeds

£3.16 million going into 17 Yorkshire pubs is a tangible investment in the hospitality infrastructure that supports Leeds’ night-time economy, communities, and match-day trade. The two Leeds examples show what the investment looks like in practice: The New Inn at Eccup is a heritage pub being brought back to life with a £420,000 revamp, while The Tommy Wass near Elland Road received £220,000 to develop as a sports venue.

Which Leeds Pubs Are Being Upgraded

The standout Leeds project is The New Inn at Eccup, a pub dating back to the late 1700s that received a £420,000 revamp and reopened under new operator Scott Westlake, who also runs the award-winning Myrtle Tavern in Meanwood. The first phase restored the building’s character; old beams, flagstone floors, and a Yorkshire stone fireplace while a second phase now under way is creating an enormous garden with countryside views, a children’s play area, and a large screen for the 2026 World Cup. Trade since reopening has been 30% higher than expected, with 15 new jobs created. Closer to the city centre, The Tommy Wass on Dewsbury Road near Elland Road received a £220,000 revamp earlier this year, reopening under new management with an improved layout, designated games room, and a sports-focused offer including Sky and TNT Sports on large screens. These are just two of the Heineken Leeds pubs receiving investment under the programme.

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“”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.””

— Lawson Mountstevens, Managing Director, Star Pubs

Pubs as Local Infrastructure

The investment programme is focused on creating pubs that appeal to the whole community, with different areas for drinking, dining, and sports or entertainment. About a quarter of the major revamps nationally are elevating sports facilities ahead of the 2026 World Cup, while Heineken is also trialling a new model designed for younger adults, combining daytime co-working space with evening DJs, live music, and competitive socialising. Eight of the 52 projects already under way nationally involve reopening boarded-up pubs, some closed for years. Star Pubs managing director Lawson Mountstevens called for root-and-branch reform of business rates and a lowering of VAT and beer duty, saying Heineken can only do so much without government support for the sector.