Greene King eyes 100 job cuts as pub large plans second restructure in two years amid hovering prices

Greene King is considering cutting around 100 jobs in what would be its second restructure in two years amid soaring costs in the hospitality industry. 

Britain’s second-largest pubs operator, which runs around 2,600 venues across the country, is said to be considering another major shake-up in the wake of steep losses.

The pub giant, which was founded in 1799 in the historic market town of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, is among the thousands of hospitality firms who are feeling the pinch after being hammered by rising costs and tax rises.

Greene King is now said to be reviewing its options, with about 100 jobs potentially affected across its head office in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, and central functions.

This plan comes just two years after Greene King slashed jobs in a restructure that the pub chain said would allow the company to survive ‘in these challenging times’, the The Sunday Times reports. No decision is thought to have been made yet.

Increasing costs, including Labour’s national insurance hike, have put greater pressure on pubs across Britain. 

Four hospitality businesses closed every day under Labour between October and December 2025. 

Last year, the chief executive of Greene King said that the pub chain had seen its costs rise by more than £300million since 2019 amid tax hikes and food, energy and labour cost increases. 

Greene King runs around 2,600 pubs across Britain and was founded in 1799 in the historic market town of Bury St Edmunds, where job cuts could take place. (File image)

Chief executive of Greene King, Nick Mackenzie (pictured), said last year that the pub chain had seen its costs rise by more than £300million since 2019 amid tax hikes and food, energy and labour cost increases

Nick Mackenzie said then: ‘We’re asking the Government to back pubs, and pubs will deliver for this country. 

‘What we have to do is get the right environment and that, in the short term, is about making sure taxation is fair for our industry.’

He wrote in the Daily Mail in December that pubs faced a ‘constant layering of costs’.

In 2024 Greene King planned to close its 200-year-old brewery in Bury St Edmunds, putting hundreds of jobs at risk. 

A new £40million facility is set to be completed by 2027 – where it will brew both cask ales and newer beers. 

Greene King’s latest available accounts show that sales increased by 3.2 per cent to £2.45billion in 2024 but fell to a pre-tax loss of £147.1million. The company said at the time that its adjusted operating profits were £198million. 

Adjusted operating profits do not include things such as interest payments on debt or major ‘one-off’ costs. 

The pub chain employed around 1,000 people in its head office in 2024. 

In January Rachel Reeves (pictured) announced a £300m package to support pubs against rising business rates after a widespread backlash to her Budget announcement saw Labour MPs banned from pubs across the country

The company, which was born in the historic Suffolk market town of Bury St Edmunds, was sold to Hong Kong’s richest family in 2019 for £2.7billion. 

Rival pub operator Stonegate also appointed advisers last month to restructure and cut jobs. It has already cut 95 roles with a further 80 at risk. 

Stonegate, owner of the Slug & Lettuce brand, is also planning to sell a package of 1,000 pubs for £1billion to pay down its debts. 

The end of 2025 saw the Pizza Hut chain close 68 restaurants, while a number of independent eateries have also called it quits.

In January Rachel Reeves announced a £300m package to support pubs against rising business rates after a widespread backlash to her Budget announcement saw Labour MPs banned from pubs across the country. 

Pubs and music venues will be given a 15 per cent discount on business rates from April. 

But industry groups such as HospitalityUK and business owners have warned that more cafes, restaurants and hotels will be left with no choice but to shut up shop if similar measures are not drawn up for other parts of the sector. 

Allen Simpson, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, told the Daily Mail in January: ‘The cost challenges facing hospitality businesses continue to grow and four businesses closing a day in the last quarter of 2025 is the unfortunate reality of a sector shouldering the highest tax burden in the economy.’ 

Greene King declined to comment.