• As debate rages on about going back to physical desks five days a week, Heineken^® has cheekily renamed pubs across the UK to ‘The Office’ to celebrate one of the best parts of the working day - after-work socialising
  
• It comes as almost half of hybrid workers (46%) say they’re missing out on catch-ups with colleagues outside the office 
  
• New report shows after-work socialising will contribute £28.9bn to the UK economy this year, and every £10 spent in places like the pub brings an additional £13.40 to the nation’s coffers
• This October, Heineken^® is making the return to the office that little bit more palatable by offering the UK’s 22m after work pub-goers a chance to get a free pint which can be redeemed with colleagues Monday - Friday from 4.59pm

LONDON, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A third of UK workers have seen changes in their working patterns to spend more time at their offices in the past six months, and Heineken® has set out its stall: it wants more Brits in the office.

Only with a bit of a twist: the beer brand is renaming pubs across the UK to ‘The Office’ to spotlight the silver lining of being back at your desk - the bit that comes right after.

Whether it’s the commute, the unspoken rule of needing to make everyone a cup of coffee, or simply the need to put something smart on, we’ve all had our fair share of gripes with heading back to the office. But one thing’s been overlooked in the years-long debate - and that’s the value of catching up with colleagues to socialise after work.

Heineken® has long championed making connections with people face to face, and now, with 46% of hybrid workers saying they miss out on post-work patter, the beer brand is offering a free pint of Heineken® Original or Heineken® 0.0 for workers and their colleagues at more than 1,000 pubs.

Some 22 million people across the UK enjoy after work socialising with their colleagues, but that figure has seen a slight reduction from pre-pandemic figures (down 5%). Since then, new working practices mean some 58% of Gen Z hybrid workers have never met some of those they work with - and that’s despite 72% of them agreeing the best place to build a relationship with your co-workers is outside of work.

The after-work social has long been a sacred British tradition, fostering connections and fuelling productivity. Some 78% of workers polled said after work socialising is a good way to meet new people and contacts. A further 32% said they have their most honest conversations at the pub, while 74% of Gen Z claimed they have their best work ideas not at work, but at the pub social straight afterwards.

It should be no surprise, then, that a new report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research showed that every £10 spent on after-work socialising brings an additional £13.40 to the wider economy.

In fact, after-work socialising is set to sustain an aggregate economic footprint of £28.9bn in the UK 2025 alone, and the sector supports a massive 300,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

What’s more, some 45% of workers say knowing their manager on a more personal level can strengthen their career prospects. There’s good news for businesses too: 59% said they’d be less likely to quit a job if they had a strong relationship with their colleagues.

Nabil Nasser, Global Head of Heineken®, said: "The return-to-office chat continues to stir up debate. After years of video calls and virtual cheers it’s safe to say that while we might not miss the office, we’ve certainly missed those real, in-person laughs with our colleagues. At Heineken, we’ve always believed the best moments happen when people get together, so this month we’re raising our pints to ‘circling back’ to our colleagues – at the pub."

While a handful of pubs are cheekily changing their signs, more than 1,000 pubs in England are taking part in the offer of a free pint of Heineken or Heineken 0.0 to share with colleagues. Simply sign up here to receive a voucher, which can be shared with up to three friends (one pint per person), Monday to Friday throughout October from 4:59pm. In Scotland and Wales, scan the QR code in-pub or head online after 4:59pm for the chance to win limited-edition Heineken merch.

Notes to editors Media contact:
heinekencultureuk@wearetheromans.com

Additional statistics:

• Londoners are the most enthusiastic after-work socialisers: some 87.6% head out with their colleagues at least once a year
• Workers in science, technology and research are the most likely to socialise with colleagues - and it is no coincidence these workers are also most likely to be back in the office five days a week

Research Credits:
*Heineken commissioned a survey of 1,008 UK office workers. Research conducted by OnePoll, August 2025.

+   30% of UK workers have seen their working patterns change in the past six months

*Separately, Heineken commissioned a report titled ‘The economic value of after-work occasions’ by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, produced in collaboration with the British Bar and Pub Association, the UK’s leading trade association representing pubs and breweries.

About Heineken®

HEINEKEN® is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken® brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brewing a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business.
HEINEKEN® has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We employ over 85,000 employees and operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken® N.V. and Heineken® Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. HEINEKEN® has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken® N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken® Holding
N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY)

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