Major coffee chain with 2,000 locations having to close stores after a series of closures

A large coffee chain with more than 2,000 locations is closing another of its stores.

Costa Coffee is pulling down the shutters on one of its cafes, which fans are calling a “lovely retreat”.

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The high street favorite has closed several stores in recent months.

Now the chain has confirmed to The Sun that Uppingham café will close in May.

The site will remain open and function normally until then.

And customers looking to get their caffeine fix can visit several locations nearby, including Lands End Way, Oakham.

A spokesperson for Costa Coffee said: “We can confirm that our Costa Coffee store on High Street West, Uppingham, will close its doors to trading in May.

“All team members will be redeployed to other stores. Customers will continue to be able to enjoy their favorite Costa Coffee in our nearest store in Lands End Way, Oakham.”

To find your nearest store or Costa Express machine, visit the chain’s website.

Reviews for the online store have been largely glowing in the past, indicating that locals will be disappointed to learn of the closure.

One said: “Costa Coffee in Uppingham is a lovely retreat for coffee lovers like me.

“The warm and inviting atmosphere, combined with consistently excellent coffee, creates a first-class experience.

“The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive, making every visit a pleasure.

“I highly recommend this branch for your caffeine cravings!”

While another wrote: “It’s one of the most comfortable places I can have a coffee. The staff are so welcoming and I would recommend anyone to go there.”

A third commented: “Fantastic Costa, friendly staff, quick service…clean…great coffee.”

Costa, which has more than 2,000 branches in the UK, has shuttered three stores in the past month alone.

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 Bruntsfield Place in Edinburgh served its last latte on February 14.

Customers can continue to enjoy their favorite Costa coffee at the nearby store on Morningside Road

The Costa Coffee in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham, closed permanently on March 3.

Fans of the coffee shops were unhappy with the closure and called for a rescue.

Costa also ground his last bean in the Sussex village of Rottingdean, Brighton and Hove.

It’s not all bad news, however, as the chain has also opened dozens of sites and drive-thrus in the past year.

A spokesperson for Costa Coffee said: “As the nation’s favorite coffee shop, with more than 2,700 Costa Coffee stores across the UK and Great Britain, we regularly review our retail offering.

“We are investing heavily in opening new stores, relocating stores and investing in store designs to ensure they are right for the customers and communities they serve.

We have exciting plans for our real estate estate in 2024. As well as opening at least 50 brand new stores, including many relocations, our store renewal program will upgrade hundreds of existing stores in communities, towns and cities across the UK.

“This includes investing in store team training, updating store designs and furnishings, introducing our new delicious fresh-baked store range and installing new innovative technologies.

“Our significant retail investment programs have a positive impact on local economies and communities, creating additional employment opportunities while improving the coffee shop experience for customers.

“We are committed to expanding and improving our retail offering, investing in local communities, local teams and welcoming customers in a warm and welcoming environment.”

What other food and drink chains have closed?

Food and beverage chains in general have suffered in recent months as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending money on eating out.

Businesses struggled to recover after the pandemic but were hit by rising energy bills and inflation.

Costa is not the only coffee chain to close branches in recent months.

Caffè Nero, which launched in Britain in 1997, pulled down the shutters on half a dozen locations in 2023, a blow to caffeine lovers.

However, one of the six locations was closed for temporary renovation, while the other involved a relocation.

However, four coffee houses closed their shops for good, including the branch in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, which closed on June 3.

The Witney branch closed two days later, and the Wigan city center branch on 25 June.

International coffee giant Starbucks will be pulling down the shutters on one of its coffee houses in a few days.

The chain will close its branch in Dalton Park Shopping Centre, County Durham, on March 10.

At the end of last year, Starbucks closed their coffeehouse on Botanic Avenue, Belfast for good.

Several chains have been affected, resulting in major brands such as Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.

In early 2023, hamburger chain Byron Burger collapsed, resulting in the loss of more than 200 jobs.

Italian chain Prezzo also announced plans last year to close 46 restaurants due to rising energy and food costs, putting 810 jobs at risk.

Although some chains have managed to persevere, such as Greggs who announced massive expansion plans.

Bakery chains Wenzel’s the Bakers and Patisserie Valerie are also looking at opening new branches.

What else is happening on the shopping street?

Retailers are also feeling the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers cut back on spending due to the rising cost of living.

High energy costs and the move to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll, with many high street stores struggling to continue.

The high street has seen a slew of closures in the past year and more are in the pipeline.

Several major brands have also collapsed, such as Wilko and Paperchase and The Body Shop.

Many retail chains are struggling to make ends meet, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Energy costs have risen and more consumers than ever are choosing to order online instead of going to the store.

This leaves some retailers struggling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

Several major chains are pulling down the shutters for the last time this month.

Boots will close a further ten stores in the coming weeks.

The move by health and beauty retailer Boots is part of plans to close 300 locations.

Joules, known for his boots and raincoats, pulled down the shutters of another store in Stratford.

Matalan closed one of its branches in Leeds on February 24.

main Street Designer brand Kurt Geiger has downed the shutters of its Brighton store.

Fenwick department store too closed its London flagship store on Bond Street on February 3.

Fashion chain of major brands Peacocks closed one of its branches in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, last month.

Peacocks is also shuttering its store in Camborne, Cornwall, on April 3 with “a very heavy heart”.

Entertainment retailer HMV also closed its branch in Boston, Lincolnshire on January 27.

Why are retailers closing their stores?

RETAILERS have been feeling the pressure since the pandemic, as shoppers cut back on spending due to the rising cost of living.

High energy costs and the move to online shopping after the pandemic are also taking their toll, with many high street stores struggling to continue.

The high street has seen a slew of closures in the past year, with more to come.

The number of jobs lost in UK retail fell last year, but 120,000 people still lost their jobs, figures show.

Figures from the Center for Retail Research show that 10,494 stores will have closed for the last time in 2023 and 119,405 jobs will have been lost in the sector.

It was fewer stores than had been lost in recent years, and a decrease from the 151,641 jobs lost in 2022.

The centre’s director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is “less bad” than good.

While some big names on the high street were lost, including Wilko, many major companies had already gone bankrupt before 2022, the center said, such as Topshop owner Arcadia, Jessops and Debenhams.

“The cost of living crisis, inflation and rise in interest rates have prompted many consumers to tighten their belts, causing retail spending to fall,” said Prof Bamfield.

“Retailers themselves have faced rising energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and declining demand, making rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult.”

Besides Wilko, which employed around 12,000 people when it went bust, the biggest failures of 2023 include UK Flooring Direct, Planet Organic and Tile Giant.

The Center for Retail Research said most stores were closed as companies tried to reorganize and cut costs rather than face bankruptcy.

However, experts have warned that more bankruptcies are likely this year as consumers tighten their belts and borrowing costs for businesses soar.

According to official figures, about 14% of bankruptcies last year occurred in retail businesses.