coffee
A HIGH street favourite with more than 2000 stores across the UK has confirmed the exact date it plans to shut one of its branches for good.
Costa Coffee has announced they are pulling the shutters down on another one of its cafes, which fans have branded a “delightful haven”.
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The popular coffee chain has closed several of its stores in recent months.
The chain confirmed to The Sun that its branch in Uppingham will be closing on May 27.
The site will remain open and operate as normal until then.
Caffeine lovers looking to get their fix will be able to visit other nearby branches, including the one at Lands End Way, Oakham.
A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: “I can confirm that Monday 27th May will be the last day of trade at our Uppingham store.”
They added that staff at the branch would be relocated to other sites.
“Customers will be able to continue to enjoy their favourite Costa Coffee at our nearest store in Lands End Way, Oakham.”
To find your nearest store or Costa Express machine, you can visit the chain’s website.
The Uppingham store received glowing reviews in the past which shows it will be missed by the locals, who are no doubt disappointed to learn of the closure.
One said: “Costa Coffee in Uppingham is a delightful haven for coffee enthusiasts like me.
“The warm and inviting atmosphere, coupled with consistently excellent coffee, ensures a top-notch experience.
“The staff is incredibly friendly and attentive, making each visit a pleasure.
“I wholeheartedly recommend this branch for your caffeine cravings!”
While another wrote: “It’s one of the most comfortable places I can go for coffee. The staff are so welcoming and I’d recommend anyone to go.”
A third commented: “Fantastic Costa, friendly staff, quick service…clean…great coffee.”
Costa has closed three of their shops in the past month.
It closed its store on Chiswick High Road on February 6.
The nearest Costa Coffee for locals is now King’s Street in Hammersmith.
Costa Coffee on Edinburgh’s Bruntsfield Place served its last latte on February 14.
Customers can continue to enjoy their favourite Costa coffee at the nearby store on Morningside Road
The Costa Coffee in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham, shut down for good on March 3.
Costa enthusiasts were devastated by the closures and called for the affected locations to be saved.
However, it is not all bad news after the chain launched a dozen new branches and drive-thrus over the past year.
A Costa Coffee Spokesperson said: “As the Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop, with over 2,700 Costa Coffee stores across the UK&I we regularly review our store estate.
“We invest heavily in opening new stores, relocating stores and investing in store designs to ensure they are right for the customers and communities they serve.
“Our significant store investment programmes have a positive impact on local economies and communities, creating additional job opportunities whilst enhancing the coffee shop experience for customers.”
Why are retailers closing stores?
RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis.
High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going.
The high street has seen a whole raft of closures over the past year, and more are coming.
The number of jobs lost in British retail dropped last year, but 120,000 people still lost their employment, figures have suggested.
Figures from the Centre for Retail Research revealed that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
It was fewer shops than had been lost for several years, and a reduction from 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.
The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.
Although there were some big-name losses from the high street, including Wilko, many large companies had already gone bust before 2022, the centre said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.
“The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
“Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”
Alongside Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it collapsed, 2023’s biggest failures included UK Flooring Direct, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs rather than the business failing.
However, experts have warned there will likely be more failures this year as consumers keep their belts tight and borrowing costs soar for businesses.
Last year, around 14% of insolvencies were in retail businesses, according to official figures.
