HAS BEAN
Major coffee chain with over 2,000 locations to abruptly shut high street branch for good TODAY
See what else has been lost from the high street
A COFFEE chain with more than 2,000 branches across the UK is set to pull the shutters down on one of its high street locations.
Costa Coffee will close in a picturesque town for good today in a blow for locals.
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Lyndhurst in the New Forest will lose the coffee shop, though no reason has been given.
A spokesperson for Costa : " We can confirm that our franchise-owned Costa Coffee store in Lyndhurst is closing its doors for trade on Friday, with team members looking to be redeployed to nearby stores.
“Customers can continue to enjoy their favourite coffee in the Totton shopping centre nearby, or by using the store locator.”
The store locator tool can be found online at www.costa.co.uk/locations/store-locator/
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Franchising means independent operators are in control of local stores.
The franchisees, owners of local branches, invest in setting up their own stores and managing the shop under the Costa name.
It's a common business model and also used by the likes of McDonald's, KFC, and Domino's.
The popular Costa Coffee spot will be much missed by locals.
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Reviews of the cafe which is on Lyndhurst high street have called it the best in the town.
One said: "I have tried all 16 coffee shops in Lyndhurst but this is my favourite and I tell you why. The coffee is of fine quality as is size. Other places charge much more for smaller. Sometimes as bonus I buy cake or sandwich and sometimes these are on special offer.
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"Last but most high in importance the staff are very fine. Friendly and courteous and the cafè is nicely decorated and well set out. Relaxing and a hint of sophistication. This is best place to come for fine coffee, service and good atmosphere and quite good value."
Others praised its friendly and efficient staff and quality of coffee.
Chair of the parish council, councillor Chris Willsher, told New Milton Advertiser and Lymington Times: "Costa will be missed by many residents and we are saddened to see the closure of another business in Lyndhurst.
"The premises occupy a central position in the High Street – we hope they will not remain empty for long."
The historic town lost its Prezzo in 2023 amid the closure of dozens of branches of the restaurant chain.
Costa Coffee loyalty scheme perks
COSTA Club members can get early access to new menus among other perks.
To join download the Costa Coffee app, it's free to download via the Apple app store or Google Play store.
Stamps can be collected in any of the chain’s 2,800 coffee shops, as well as around 12,000 machines in petrol stations and convenience stores.
You can get stamps for spending in store and using a reusable cup.
You get a free drink after collecting ten stamps, or beans as they are called.
For a small latte, at £3.50, it’s £35 to get a free coffee.
Those going to a Costa store can earn an additional bean with a reusable cup, so that cuts the outlay down to £17.50 or buying five coffees.
- How it works: 1 drink purchased = 1 bean, 10 beans = free drink
- Small latte cost: £3.50
- Number of drinks to hit target: 10
- Cost for a 'free' coffee: £35
- Reusable cup bonus: Yes, one extra bean
You also get free cake on your birthday.
Lloyds Bank closed its branch there in 2022 while the The New Forest Butcher ceased trading at the end of 2023 just before Christmas.
Shops, pubs and restaurants have faced tough times in recent years with rising prices like rent and energy bills.
Combined with hard-pressed shoppers who have less money to spend due to the cost of living, it has seen the number of people on high streets fall.
Some retailers have closed a few branches here and there for various reasons, like when a store lease has come to an end.
Other examples of one-off rather than widespread closures is if there are changes in the area, like a shopping centre closing, and in some cases a shop will close to relocate to another area.
Some chains have faced tougher conditions though, forcing them to shut dozens of stores, or all of them in the worst case.
Costa Coffee has closed a handful of stores in recent months including Fleet Walk in Burnley and Alexandra retail park, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent in September last year.
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I also closed around a dozen locations in 2023, though some were relocated or refurbished.
It still runs more than 2,000 locations across the UK though and has numerous Express machines in branches of Tesco, Spar and Shell.
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By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
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