Be.EV opens 13th charging hub with JW Lees in Oldham

Be.EV has opened its 13th charging hub with JW Lees at the Boat and Horses pub in Chadderton, Oldham, bringing the partnership to 28 ultra-rapid charging bays across 13 pub locations.

The latest hub is close to the M60 and serves an area where charging provision remains relatively limited. Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton ranks 273rd in the UK for chargers per electric vehicle, and the pub is positioned to attract drivers using the nearby motorway.

The Boat and Horses is about 50 metres from the nearest M60 exit and is intended to serve a local population of 128,000 as well as passing traffic. Drivers can add up to 165 miles of range in around 20 minutes, according to Be.EV.

The opening extends a three-year collaboration between Be.EV and JW Lees, the Manchester brewer and pub operator. The two businesses are using pub car parks for public charging in a model designed to combine a routine stop for food, drink or other facilities with a charging session.

The approach reflects a wider shift in the charging market towards destination sites rather than standalone stops. Operators are increasingly seeking locations where motorists can spend charging time on other activities, especially in urban areas and among drivers without access to home charging.

In Chadderton, the hub was designed with those users in mind while continuing to serve existing pub customers. The nearby Costco adds another draw for drivers who want to combine charging with shopping.

Be.EV has used the same model at sites including Hulme Retail Park and the Manchester Charging Oasis. Its wider network now includes more than 2,500 live charging bays across more than 680 sites nationwide, with a focus on rapid and ultra-rapid charging.

The business ranks as the UK's sixth-largest operator by number of rapid and ultra-rapid bays. It is backed by GBP £110 million from Octopus Energy Generation and a further GBP £55 million from NatWest and KfW IPEX-Bank.

Local Demand

The latest opening comes as public charging coverage remains uneven across the UK. Areas with lower charger-to-vehicle ratios can face extra pressure as electric vehicle adoption rises, particularly near major roads where local demand is supplemented by through traffic.

For pub operators, installing chargers also gives motorists another reason to stop. The hospitality sector has faced pressure from higher costs and shifting consumer spending, prompting some businesses to look for additional ways to attract visitors and increase dwell time.

Be.EV linked the partnership with JW Lees to a strategy of placing chargers where drivers already spend time. This is intended to reduce the need for separate charging trips and make use of existing amenities.

"As our partnership with JW Lees continues to evolve, it's the right moment to add practical charging where people already stop. We know that most drivers want to charge somewhere pleasant and convenient. Nobody likes sitting somewhere for 20 minutes with nothing to do. Putting ultra-rapid bays at J.W. Lees locations means you can plug in during a normal visit, use the amenities, and get back on the road without turning charging into a separate trip," said Asif Ghafoor, Chief Executive Officer, Be.EV.

JW Lees said customer demand had helped shape its decision to keep expanding the charging offer across its estate. A spokesperson also pointed to practical issues facing electric vehicle owners, including concerns over range and charger reliability.

"We have partnered with Be.EV for three years now and EV charging is something that our customers are looking for when they come to our pubs. As an EV owner myself, I know the challenges of range anxiety and the reliability of EV charging stations, and I can be seen regularly charging my car at one of Be.EV's 28 charging bays at 13 different JW Lees pubs," said Lees-Jones.