HOW ROBINSONS BREWERY ENGAGED THEIR PUB PARTNERS

06/08/2025

Robinsons Brewery is a family-run brewery with a rich history and a commitment to sustainability. Operating 250 pubs, including over 220 sites run by Pub Partners, Robinsons knew that engaging their operators would be key to reducing their environmental impact.

HOW ROBINSONS BREWERY ENGAGED THEIR PUB PARTNERS

SET THE BASELINE

Used our Corporate Carbon Calculator to understand the impact and priority areas to tackle.

SLASHED ENERGY USE

Installed new lighting and applied an improved approach to new purchases.

MEASURING PROGRESS

They now apply a data-driven approach that measures performance and helps to make informed decisions.

WHO IS ROBINSONS BREWERY?

With over 185 years of brewing heritage in the heart of Stockport, Robinsons is a family-run, independent brewery with deep roots in the North West and North Wales. Today, they own and operate a diverse collection of around 250 pubs, inns and hotels across the region.

Combining tradition with innovation, Robinsons runs one of the UK’s most advanced breweries – home to the world’s largest Hopnik – and has built a global reputation for quality real ale. They continue to evolve, using generations of expertise to create new flavours and award-winning beers that reflect changing tastes and expectations.

THE CHALLENGE

Like many in the industry, Robinsons faced a common issue - how to cut carbon across a diverse and independently managed tenanted estate. With Pub Partners (historically referred to as tenants in the pub sector) operating their sites autonomously, getting them on board with sustainability efforts wasn’t a simple switch. They needed a way to make carbon reduction easy, relevant, and beneficial.

THEIR GOAL

Robinsons set out to empower their tenants with the knowledge and tools to reduce emissions, save on energy costs, and ultimately run more sustainable businesses. The aim was to make sustainability feel less like a chore and more like an opportunity - one that would benefit both the planet and their Pub Partners' bottom lines.

THE SOLUTION

To crack the challenge, Robinsons leaned into the support of their Zero Carbon Forum membership. They introduced sustainability into their ongoing conversations with Pub Partners, embedding it into their Facebook groups, area meetings, and regular Business Development Manager (BDM) chats. By making sustainability a natural part of the dialogue, and relating it to already comfortable business language, they removed the fear factor and made it a topic everyone could get behind.

THE ROLE OF THE ZERO CARBON FORUM

Robinsons made the most of their membership by accessing the expert advice, tools and community engagement that could help them make progress fast.

They leveraged some key Forum tools specifically designed to help large pub operators engage their tenants, including:

Corporate Carbon Calculator – Tenants used this to measure their carbon footprint, compare it against industry benchmarks, and pinpoint areas for improvement.

List of Initiatives Guide – A simple, no-nonsense toolkit for tenants to take meaningful steps in reducing emissions, from upgrading equipment to smarter energy use.

As well as:

Carbon Literacy Training – Robinsons became the first brewery in the world to be Carbon Literate, equipping their teams and BDMs with the confidence to talk sustainability in a clear, practical way.

THE IMPACT

With these tools in hand, Robinsons’ tenants began making real changes. One standout example is The Dog & Partridge, where their Pub Partner Karen used the Carbon Calculator to assess their impact, set their baseline and identify the priority areas for improvement.

The results led to investments in energy-efficient lighting and a more considered approach to new equipment purchases, helping to slash energy use. This data-driven approach meant they could measure their progress and make informed decisions moving forward.

Karen’s enthusiasm and commitment didn’t go unnoticed. She was awarded a BII Sustainability Champion Award for her efforts. Reflecting on the journey, she shared:

“Being environmentally conscious, we were eager to understand our carbon footprint. The Carbon Calculator enables us to visualise which parts of our business have the greatest environmental impact. Understanding this informs our future sustainable practices.”

Karen
Pub Partner, Dog & Partridge

We joined the Zero Carbon Forum to help us move faster and more effectively on our journey to net zero. It gives us access to expert advice, practical tools like the carbon footprint calculator, and support for rolling out energy-saving and efficiency initiatives across our pubs and breweries. One of the biggest benefits is the collaboration. We’re able to connect with others in our sector and ask questions, share what’s working (and what isn’t), and learn from each other in a transparent and practical way. Being part of the Forum also helps us identify funding opportunities, cut costs and emissions through reduced energy use and food waste, and provides ways we can keep our teams engaged and motivated around our sustainability goals. It’s a prime example of how we can move further as an industry by working together.

Ben Robinson

Director of Pub Partnerships, Robinsons Brewery

BRAND IMPACT

By making sustainability accessible, Robinsons has helped their operators to take practical, profitable steps toward reducing their carbon footprint. Not only are their Pub Partners saving money, but they’re also future-proofing their businesses and enhancing their appeal to eco-conscious customers.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

For Robinsons, the journey to net zero isn’t just about hitting targets, it’s about bringing their tenants along for the ride, making sustainability an opportunity rather than an obligation.

Over 30 Robinsons pubs have been awarded with the BII Sustainability Champion certificate for their ongoing efforts in energy efficiency and waste reduction, team engagement, and sustainable procurement (August 2025).

And with the right tools and 1-2-1 support from the Forum, they’re proving that cutting carbon and building great brands go hand in hand.

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