Pub chain JW Lees signs £1.8m EV charging deal with Be.EV

Locally-based brewer and pub operator JW Lees has picked national charge point operator Be.EV to bring ultra-rapid EV charging to patrons in a £1.8m deal.

Be.EV is installing 22 ultra-rapid charging bays at seven locations across the North-West, with the existing charging infrastructure being upgraded at some sites. 

The Millgate (Failsworth), The Urmston (Stretford), The Aviator (Stockport), The Bluebird Inn (Balderstone) and Duke of Gloucester (Crewe) are already switched on and available for public use. 

These chargers will serve 12,500 local EV drivers across all these pubs, not including visiting drivers, who are increasingly looking for EV charging at places they’ll be visiting.

Be.EV research shows that 78% of EV drivers say it is ‘essential’ or ‘important for charge points to be in convenient locations. 

The Aviator in Stockport has been upgraded to six ultra-rapid bays, having previously consisted of four fast-charging bays which refill an EV battery in six to eight hours.

These new charging times are much better suited to visitors at JW Lees pubs, as they allow pub visitors to add up to 165 miles of range in a short 20-minute stop.

This shows how retailers should never stop thinking about how they can improve the EV charging experience for their customers.

A further two pubs will have chargers installed in early 2025, with the Pointing Dog (Cheadle) and the Moss Trooper (Altrincham) all getting charging kits.

This partnership provides a template for other hospitality brands to follow. 

Regulations require that all new non-residential buildings with more than 10 parking spaces must provide EV charging for one in five of their spaces. 

JW Lees’ example shows how pubs can adhere to these regulations while attracting EV drivers to their sites.

Be.EV covers the cost of installation and maintenance of chargers and shares a portion of the revenues with the landowners, which makes this an even more attractive revenue-generating source for pubs, especially at a time where they’re facing increasing financial pressure.

JW Lees owns and operates more than 150 pubs across the North West and North Wales, and is now part of the North’s largest public EV charging network, following in the footsteps of household retailer brands such as Decathlon.

Asif Ghafoor, CEO of Be.EV, said: ​​”Regional partnerships are a cornerstone to the regeneration of our local areas, and we’re proud to be partnering with such a well-established northern business.

“Our charging hubs will offer JW Lees pub-goers a convenient moment to charge their car, and the chain is getting ahead of the curve by providing reliable, high-quality charging facilities for their customers so they can charge and drive responsibly.

“Some of the sites had charging technology that needed an upgrade.

"Fast chargers are already becoming outdated, and pub landlords need to consider upgrading their technology before they fall even further behind." 

William Lees-Jones, Managing Director at JW Lees, said: “As an EV driver myself for the last five years I know how important it is for drivers to have reliable, affordable and convenient EV chargers at pubs, and at JW Lees we are working with Be.EV to make our pubs best in class in terms of EV provision.” 

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