By Scott Wright

TWO pubs in the Glasgow area are bidding to emerge from the Covid pandemic in a stronger position as part of £1 million investment drive by brewing giant Heineken.

The Princess in Riddrie and The Drum in Shettleston will welcome customers with revamped interiors when they reopen following months in lockdown.

The Drum on Shettleston Road will relaunch this week following a £210,000 refurbishment from Star Pubs & Bars, while work is poised to begin on a £325,000 revamp of The Princess on Smithcroft Road.

The investment in both outlets has been made by Star Pubs & Bars, the UK pub division of Heineken, which has also refurbished The Abbey in Paisley and The Spateston Inn (formerly The Osprey) in Spateston, Renfrewshire as part of its latest investment programme. Star Pubs & Bars said 30 new jobs will be created.

Lawson Mountstevens, managing director of the firm: “We’re firm believers in the future of community locals. In challenging times such as these, they’re even more important to the residents they serve.

“However, they need to keep pace with pubgoers’ changing expectations. These refurbishments will reward regulars for their loyalty and attract the new customers pubs need to thrive for the long term.”

The joint investment at The Princess is being undertaken with mother and daughter team, Adrienne Greenaway and Victoria Asghar, who have run the pub for nearly 20 years.

The reopening of The Drum, meanwhile, comes four months later than initially planned because of the pandemic.