pubs closed in Britain in Q1 2026
That was around two a day and 26% more than the same quarter in 2025.
BBPA, May 2026For eligible Star Pubs operators
Less admin. Better buying. More time for your pub.
i-curate brings approved suppliers, ordering, credits, invoices and reporting into one simple route, with real people on hand to help when you need them.
£0 to the pubNo contractNo obligationStop any time
Commercial terms depend on supplier participation and eligibility. The trial is designed so you can test the service before deciding whether it suits your pub.
The pressure is real
Pubs are still loved. Running one is harder than it should be.
When costs are tight and growth is fragile, time lost to supplier admin, invoice queries and scattered systems is time the pub cannot afford to waste.
of surveyed hospitality businesses were operating at a loss
A joint sector survey also found 16% felt at risk of failure within the following 12 months.
UKHospitality, July 2026year-on-year pub sales growth in August 2026
Managed pub sales edged forward, but hospitality growth remained below inflation.
NIQ / RSM, September 2026These industry figures describe the wider UK pub and hospitality market, not the performance of any individual Star Pubs operator.
Built around the way pubs work
Take the purchasing headaches away without taking control away.
Keep the products and relationships that make your pub yours. i-curate brings the process together, shows you what is happening and helps with the work behind it.
Get your time back
Fewer portals, fewer passwords, less chasing and one clear route for orders, credits and questions.
See what things really cost
Live purchasing information helps you understand spend, price changes, budgets and supplier activity.
Keep your choice
Use agreed, national, regional, local and specialist supply together. You decide which recommendations to accept.
Get people, not just software
Your named i-curate team helps with setup, supplier onboarding, training and day-to-day problems.
One place. One invoice. One payment.
A simpler route from basket to accounts.
Order from approved suppliers in one place. Check deliveries against the order. Keep credits, invoices, payments and reporting connected.
- One basket across approved supply
- Reusable orders for the things you buy every week
- Approvals and budget visibility where needed
- Consolidated invoicing and fewer separate payments
- A clear audit trail when a query comes back
Agreed supply, with room for what works locally
Better value without making every pub the same.
Agreed supplier arrangements are already in place for this initiative and are designed to create meaningful savings for eligible participating pubs. We can also work around the trusted local and specialist suppliers that matter to your offer.
We use real invoice and purchasing data to look at price, quality, service and availability. We may recommend a better option, but no change happens until you approve it.
Heineken and tied supplyAgreed suppliersNational and regional supplyLocal favouritesSpecialist productsYour pub stays in control
Simple commercial model
£0 to the pub. No contract.
No subscription. No software fee. No long-term commitment.
i-curate is funded through agreed supplier arrangements and savings created behind the scenes, so the pub does not pay us. You see the price, keep control and can stop at any time.
Supplier participation, eligibility and the agreed commercial model apply. Savings depend on the products, prices and suppliers each pub starts with.
Real people. One call.
We do not hand over a login and disappear.
We set the service up with you, onboard suppliers, train the team and stay close while it beds in.
When something goes wrong, the person you speak to takes ownership and stays involved until it is sorted. Friendly, open, responsive and practical, the kind of support you can call before a small issue becomes a big one.
Named supportSupplier onboardingTeam trainingDay-to-day help
Pub freedom. Group visibility.
Useful information without micromanaging the pub.
Operators can see spend, price changes, budgets and supplier issues in real time. Where group-level reporting is part of the agreed setup, estate teams can see trends and exceptions early enough to offer support.
The pub keeps operational freedom. The wider team gets clearer information. Everyone works from the same underlying activity.
Try us on your own numbers
No pressure. No change until you decide.
The quickest way to understand the opportunity is to look at a small sample of what your pub already buys.
- 1
Share a small invoice sample
We look at products, current prices, suppliers and the admin around them.
- 2
See the practical opportunity
We show where work could come out and where better value may be available.
- 3
Choose what makes sense
You decide which products, suppliers or process changes, if any, to accept.
- 4
We set it up with you
We onboard supply, train the team and stay close through the trial.
i-curate white paper
Escaping the Pub Death Spiral
How smarter ingredient spend, simpler menus and better preparation grow revenue, margin and loyalty.
The paper argues that a pub does not become distinctive by buying more ingredients. It becomes distinctive by spending where guests can taste the difference, building apparent choice from fewer better ingredients and reducing kitchen complexity.
- Spend according to what the guest notices and values
- Use fewer SKUs without making the menu feel smaller
- Cross-utilise ingredients and move safe prep out of service
- Connect supplier choice, margin, waste and cash visibility
- Use a staged 13-week recovery and measurement plan
Straight answers
Questions pub operators usually ask.
Is the service really £0 to the pub?
For eligible participating pubs, there is no subscription or software fee. i-curate is funded through agreed supplier arrangements and savings created behind the scenes. Supplier participation and eligibility apply.
Do I have to sign a contract?
The trial described here has no long-term contract or commitment. You can stop if the service is not right for your pub.
Will you force me to change suppliers?
No. We configure the route around tied and agreed supply, while protecting local and specialist relationships that work. We can recommend changes, but you decide what happens.
What support does my team receive?
Your named i-curate team helps with setup, supplier onboarding, training and day-to-day questions. We stay involved after launch.
How do you identify savings?
We review real invoice and purchasing information, then show where price, product, service or process improvements may be available. We do not promise a fixed percentage.
Is this an official Heineken or Star Pubs endorsement?
This page describes an i-curate offer intended for eligible operators in the Star Pubs estate. It should not be read as a general endorsement by Heineken UK or Star Pubs & Bars beyond arrangements separately confirmed with participating parties.
Ready to try it?
Let us take a small sample of the work off your plate.
Start with your own invoices, products and suppliers. There is no obligation and no change until you decide it makes sense.