
Heineken to create 150 jobs in Scotland with £4.5m pub investment
The company has spent £1.28m reopening four long-term closed Scottish pubs in the last six months: The Howard Arms in Kilmarnock;The New Rhindsdale Tavern in Baillieston, The Scoonie Tavern in Leven and The Station Inn in Braidwood.
Heineken said it has earmarked a further £4.5m for pubs in Scotland, which will result in an estimated 150 new jobs.
READ MORE:
'Brilliant' and 'superb' Scottish cocktail bars named the best in the world
'No shortage of interest': Family sells popular pub after 20 years
I did the Glasgow sub crawl sober and discovered what's killing our pubs
28 pubs have been identified for improvements, with 20 in line for "transformational works" costing on average £212,000, the brewing giant said.
One such pub is Van Winkle in Glasgow, where a £275,000 revamp is underway to turn it into Gael & Grain, a pub celebrating Scottish food, drink and music.
Lawson Mountstevens, Star Pubs' managing director said: 'We've invested over £1.28m in reopening four long-term closed pubs in Scotland in the last six months alone and they've all had a terrific response from local residents. Even with pressures on disposable income, people are still prioritising a trip to their local, valuing it as an everyday treat and as a way of connecting with their community. But they want to be guaranteed a quality experience: relaxing in an attractive setting is an important factor when pubgoers choose where to spend their money.
'The vast majority of our pubs are leased by independent operators who run them as their own. Investing in them keeps alive the tradition of individual locals, each with its own unique feel and serving the particular needs of its community.
'Star Pubs' licensees in Scotland employ some 2,500 people, support many Scottish suppliers and raise thousands of pounds for local charities and good causes every year. Pubs are the lifeblood of their communities and growth engines for the UK economy however they are being penalised by a disproportionate tax burden, which we hope will be addressed.'
Heineken's announcement regarding investment in Scottish pubs comes on the same day First Minister John Swinney opens its new headquarters at 6 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh ahead of the expiry of the lease on its previous premises in South Gyle. Heineken, which employs over 500 people in Scotland, has invested £2m in remodelling the St Andrew Square offices.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times
4 hours ago
- Times
Ministers seek 11th-hour reprieve for jobs at Alexander Dennis
An economic package that could give the financially troubled bus company Alexander Dennis an 11th-hour reprieve and save hundreds of jobs is being worked on by the Scottish government. Although the details have not been disclosed, the first minister John Swinney has urged the company to extend its mandatory closure consultation period, which expires on August 15, for it to be finalised. The specifics had to be kept private at this point because of commercial sensitivity, the need for further discussions and to allow due diligence on viability to take place, the government said. Alexander Dennis announced plans in June to stop manufacturing in central Scotland, at sites in Falkirk and Larbert, resulting in 400 job cuts. Suppliers have already been forced to make scores of staff redundant. The bus company is proposing to centralise bus construction in Scarborough, North Yorkshire. 'Scottish ministers place the utmost importance on the presence of Alexander Dennis in Scotland and the retention of its highly skilled manufacturing workers,' Swinney said. 'The Scottish government has committed to exploring any and all viable options through the consultation period to allow the firm to retain its skilled employees and manufacturing and production facilities. 'While I cannot provide details due to commercial sensitivity at this time, I hope this update provides the workforce and the local community with further assurance that the Scottish government remains wholly committed to supporting the future of bus manufacture in Scotland.' Kate Forbes, the deputy first minister, will meet with the unions GMB and Unite on Monday to update the Scottish workforce. Alexander Dennis is the largest bus and coach manufacturer in the UK and had a 50 per cent market share in 2019. The firm's managing director, Paul Davies, said it would need to win orders for at least 70 new buses this year — and a further 300 next year — for it to keep its Scottish sites open. The issue was demand and the company did not have sufficient volume in the order book to sustain two manufacturing sites in the UK, Davies said. The Scarborough operation has the capacity to produce around 1,200 buses a year.


Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Keir Starmer & John Swinney face difficult ‘balancing act' after Donald Trump admits he's in a grumpy mood
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SIR Keir Starmer and John Swinney face a difficult 'balancing act' in talks with Donald Trump - after the US President admitted he was in a grumpy mood. The Prime Minister will fly to Scotland on Monday morning to meet Mr Trump at his Turnberry golf resort in Ayrshire for a 'wide-ranging' summit on issues including trade and the Israel-Hamas war. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Donald Trump is 'not in a good mood' before summit 3 The Prime Minister and First Minister are set to meet with the US President 3 He made the admission after he striking an EU trade deal Later, the PM and the First Minister will attend a banquet-style dinner hosted by the US leader in the north-east, ahead of him opening a new 18-hole golf course in honour of his late Scottish mother, Mary Anne Macleod, at Menie, Aberdeenshire, on Tuesday. But despite striking an EU trade deal, the unpredictable US President admitted he was 'not in a good mood' after a hectic weekend at Turnberry, where he juggled two rounds of golf with family time, presidential business, and a flurry of social media blasts taking aim at rivals back home. A senior SNP insider admitted that today's multiple summits - including an expected one-to-one between Mr Trump and Mr Swinney in the north-east - amounted to 'a difficult balancing act for everyone', with both the PM and FM expected to try to pressure Mr Trump on thorny issues including trade tariffs and reviving stalled Gaza peace talks. Speaking in the first of two press conferences with White House reporters, journalists suggested he seemed in a good mood. But Mr Trump replied: 'I'm actually not in a good mood' - prompting a nervous smile and a raised eyebrow from Ms von der Leyen. The President insisted it was nothing to do with imminent talks with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, and asked why he was in a bad mood and if it was to do with his latest golf round, Mr Trump said: 'No, the golf was beautiful. Golf can never be bad.' But minutes later, a tetchy-sounding President launched into another of his trademark attacks on windfarms, which he famously battled against - in vain - off the Aberdeenshire coast. In a two-and-half minute blast, he claimed he would 'not allow a windmill to be built in the US' as 'they're killing the beauty of our scenery, our valleys, our beautiful planes - and I'm not talking about aeroplanes, I'm talking about beautiful planes, beautiful areas in the US'. He said 'almost all' were made in China and 'when they start to rust and rot in eight years, you can't really turn them off, you can't bury them'. Mr Trump said windmills 'kill the birds' and said: 'You have a certain place in the Massachusetts area that over the last 20 years had one or two whales wash ashore .. cause it's driving them loco. It's driving them crazy.' TRUMP V WINDMILLS Slamming windfarms off the Ayrshire coast, he said 'I mean, today, I'm playing the best course I think in the world, Turnberry - even though I own it, it's probably the best course in the world, right - and I look over the horizon and I see nine windmills right at the end of the 18th hole. 'And I said, 'Isn't that a shame? What a shame.' UK and Scottish government aides are known to be on edge about today's talks with Mr Trump, which will take place between the PM and President at Turnberry, before the pair fly together to Aberdeen, where Mr Swinney will then meet the US leader. All three will then attend a private ceremonial dinner said to involve a 'broad range' of guests including politicians and business figures. Sir Keir is under intense pressure from Labour backbenchers and opposition parties including the SNP to push Mr Trump for the US to revive Gaza ceasefire talks, and also to further the recent UK-US trade deal by pressuring for the removal of punishing ten per cent tariffs on products including Scotch whisky. And Mr Swinney is under fire from left-wingers in the SNP and at Holyrood for even meeting with Mr Trump. The First Minister was blasted by critics at the weekend for announcing £180,000 to help Mr Trump's Menie course to host a golf comp, which wannabe Greens leader Ross Greer claimed was like 'bending the knee' to the US President or 'giving the school bully your lunch money'. A senior Nats source defended Mr Swinney's approach, with the Tories also accusing him of hypocrisy after claims he had last wee 'whipped up' anti-Trump protests, but was now trying to curry favour with the world's most powerful man. The insider said 'There will be complaints about our approach to Trump whatever we do. 'The funding for the event at Trump International Golf Links was a positive announcement and it's our job to make the best of this visit as we possibly can.' Tomorrow morning Mr Trump will carry out the ceremonial opening of the Macleod course at his Menie estate, which it emerged on Saturday was set to get £180,000 from the Scottish Government's tourism and events organisation, VisitScotland, to support its hosting of the 2025 Nexo Championship next month. Police lock down Scots country park and beach ahead of Donald Trump's arrival HOLIDAYMAKERS have been ordered to leave a country park boasting one of Scotland's best beaches as police prepared for Donald Trump's visit to his nearby golf course. Visitors were told to vacate the beauty spot as security is beefed up ahead of US president's trip to his neighbouring Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire tomorrow. Officers locked down Balmedie Country Park and its coastal stretch — which has won 20 awards for the quality of its sand and water. Locals have vowed to protest after the Scottish Government announced a tournament held at his Trump International resort is being given £180,000 of taxpayers' cash. An onlooker said: 'Police were shutting off the beach and the park. 'It's one of the country's best and we're in the middle of the school holidays. 'Trump doesn't own it so it feels ridiculous that people who live here are being told to leave. "Loads of people were told to go. 'Is it any wonder most people around here hate him so much?' Downing Street last night said Mr Trump and Sir Keir are expected to discuss progress on implementing the UK-US trade deal agreed in May, hopes for a ceasefire in the Middle East and applying pressure on Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. It comes amid pressure on Starmer from Labour MPs to urge the US to rejoin Israel-Hamas peace talks, amid the starvation of kids in Gaza. No10 said in a statement that the 'strength of the UK-US relationship will be on display again' as the PM meets Mr Trump in 'for wide-ranging talks'. It said: 'The leaders are expected to talk one-on-one about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries. 'The Prime Minister is also expected to welcome the President's administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. 'Mr Trump's visit comes amid mounting global anger over the humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Police lock down Scots country park and beach ahead of Donald Trump's arrival Foreign Secretary David Lammy said access to aid in Gaza must be 'urgently accelerated', after air drops by Jordan and the United Arab Emirates yesterday. It came hours after Israel opened up aid corridors and 'refuted' the 'false claim of intentional starvation'. Mr Swinney said: 'My meeting with the US President during his visit to Scotland presents a significant opportunity to speak up for the issues that matter to people in Scotland on the highest platform. Global, humanitarian issues are rightly at the forefront of many people's minds. 'It is of utmost importance that we discuss what action can be taken to end the horrific suffering we are witnessing around the world, particularly the unimaginable hardship being endured by people in Gaza and the need for an urgent ceasefire. 'Both the US President and I share a fundamental desire to build peace across the world and to end the suffering endured by so many. I hope that our discussion helps to further that aim.' Mr Trump will visit the UK again in September for the official state visit announced earlier this year. But a senior whisky industry source warned: 'If the PM comes away from the Trump visit with nothing more on trade there will be serious questions to answer about whether he really fought as hard as possible for Scotland and the UK's interests, or if he just went there and tried not to upset Trump.'


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
John Swinney is accused of 'grandstanding' after holding private talks with top European official
John Swinney has been accused of 'grandstanding' on issues outside his remit during private talks with a top European official who was in Scotland to meet Donald Trump. The First Minister met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Glasgow. The talks happened on Saturday evening without any media being alerted about the meeting, with officials disclosing yesterday that 'the UK's relationship with the European Union ' was discussed, as well as the current situation in Gaza and Ukraine, and Scotland's 'important partnership' with Europe. International relations are reserved to Westminster and Scottish ministers are supposed to stick to devolved areas when holding talks with overseas political leaders. The Scottish Government last night confirmed that no officials from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) were present despite the First Minister's discussions covering foreign affairs. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'John Swinney may enjoy meeting international leaders and grandstanding about issues outwith the SNP 's remit. 'But most Scots would prefer him to reduce taxes, put businesses on an equal footing with firms in other parts of the UK, and repair the damage his government has inflicted on essential services like our schools and NHS.' Mr Swinney met Ms von der Leyen on Saturday after she arrived in Scotland to hold talks about an EU/US trade deal with President Trump at his Turnberry resort in Ayrshire. Sir Keir Starmer is set to meet the President to discuss issues including a ceasefire in Gaza and the UK's trade deal with the US today at the same venue. Mr Swinney is also due to hold talks with the President during his four-night stay in Scotland. Labour peer Lord George Foulkes said Mr Swinney's discussions with Ms von der Leyen about reserved issues are a 'huge concern'. He said: 'He is interfering in areas which they [the Scottish Government] do not have responsibility. They don't know the sensitivities, they don't have the advice of the FCDO and MOD specialists, so they are not advised properly and they cause confusion if they give different messages from the UK Government. 'On all those reserved areas, the UK Government speaks for Scotland just as much as the rest of the UK. This is them pretending to be independent, which is a total nonsense.' He also raised concerns that Mr Swinney could cause further confusion during his planned talks with Mr Trump. Lord Foulkes said: 'There could be a confusion of the message to Ursula von der Leyen and indeed to Trump. 'He is going to talk about trade to President Trump. Trade is a reserved area. It's an absolute nonsense and perpetuates the myth that Scotland is somehow different to the rest of the UK.' Mr Swinney last night confirmed he will raise 'global humanitarian issues' which are 'at the forefront of many people's minds' with the President. He said: 'It is of utmost importance that we discuss what action can be taken to end the horrific suffering we are witnessing around the world, particularly the unimaginable hardship being endured by people in Gaza and the need for an urgent ceasefire.' Humza Yousaf, Mr Swinney's predecessor, sparked a row with the previous Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron after holding private talks about Gaza with the president of Turkey without UK Government representatives in attendance. Protocols require FCDO officials to attend meetings between representatives of the devolved administrations and representatives of foreign governments. After Mr Yousaf's talks with Mr Erdogan, Lord Cameron threatened to throw Scottish Government officials out of overseas Foreign Office premises if there are any more breaches of the protocol. The Scottish Government said FCDO officials 'assisted in facilitating' the meeting between Mr Swinney and Ms von der Leyen. Sir Keir will meet the US Trump for a formal bilateral meeting this afternoon. Afterwards, they are due to travel for a 'private engagement' at Mr Trump's other Scottish venue on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, which is expected to include dinner. Details of the Menie engagement have been kept under wraps and Downing Street was unable to confirm if the Prime Minister will take part in a round of golf. Sir Keir will risk a major clash with Mr Trump by raising Gaza. Last week, Mr Trump said Hamas 'didn't really want to make a deal' on a new Gaza ceasefire deal. A Number 10 spokesman said: 'The leaders are expected to talk about advancing implementation of the landmark Economic Prosperity Deal so that Brits and Americans can benefit from boosted trade links between their two countries. 'The Prime Minister is also expected to welcome the President's administration working with partners in Qatar and Egypt to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. 'He will discuss further with him what more can be done to secure the ceasefire urgently, bring an end to the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza and free the hostages who have been held so cruelly for so long.' Sir Keir is hoping to use the talks to display the strength of the UK/US relationship. It comes ahead of the President's State visit to the UK in September.