Greene King Pub Partners, the leased, tenanted and franchise business of Greene King, has reported record applications from prospective pub operators and a strong start to the year.
During the first six months of 2026, the business received 1,449 applications — a 26% increase compared with the same period in 2025, and a record number of applications.
With occupancy rates at 97% and an average tenure of more than eight years, only a handful of Greene King pubs are on the market to run at one time. There were 26 applications for each pub available to let in the first half of this year.
The majority of Greene King’s pubs available during the period were in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Oxfordshire. However, further data shows that demand is widespread across the country.
The data also highlight the different kind of sites prospective pub operators are looking for. Almost one in five (20%) want to run pubs exclusively in towns and city centres, while 14% are interested only in rural or coastal locations.
The figures demonstrate the continued appeal of the partnership pub model. Fifty-two per cent of applicants applied to run their first pub, highlighting the demand for opportunities that combine entrepreneurial freedom with the backing of an established brand.
