The British arm of Heineken NV said June 18 that it will invest £44 million in its leased pub business Star Pubs & Bars this year.

Heineken U.K. said the investment brings its total expenditure on pubs to nearly £140 million over the past five years.

Around a quarter of Star's 2,900 locations will benefit from the investment program, according to the release. The program includes 140 major capital expenditure projects with an average spend of about £170,000 per site, the company said.

The investment is expected to generate 1,000 new jobs, Heineken U.K. added.