Starbucks to shut popular UK branch that locals say is ‘amazing’

Coffee giant Costa has closed several cafes this year including one in Inverness, Scotland, back in July.

Now Starbucks will follow suit when it bids farewell to a popular branch in England later this month.

Starbucks fans in Witney, who frequent the Market Square store in Woolgate Shopping Centre, will see the doors locked in a few days.

The coffee chain will exit the shopping centre location on August 16, much to the disappointment of local shoppers.

Visitors have praised the “extremely nice staff” who work at the Witney store, with several claiming to be “regulars”, according to Google reviews.

The coffee giant confirmed the closure of the branch via a sign on the door of the Woolgate Centre cafe.

Signed by “the team at Starbucks Witney”, the note read: “Thank you to all those who have shared a drink with us.”

Locals expressed their disappointment at the news on Facebook, as one person wrote: “It’s sad to see such an amazing place in Witney closing down! Much better than the one in Sainsbury’s.”

Another chimed: “Staff always so lovely and welcoming! Sad to see it and them going.”

Some residents have speculated that the store is not going for good, but rather moving to the former Costa Coffee premises on Welch Way which is currently vacant. However, the global coffee giant said there are no plans to open a store there.

A Starbucks spokesperson commented on the Witney closure: “We regularly review our portfolio to ensure our stores are relevant for our customers and we can confirm the Woolgate Centre Starbucks store, Witney, will be closing August 16, and all partners at this store are being relocated to other Starbucks stores nearby.”

Though it comes as a shock to fans of the branch, it’s not the first branch to shut in recent months.

In April, Starbucks announced the shock closure of one of its Reading cafes. Before this in March, locals were saddened to hear their Dalton Park store in Murton, Country Durham would cease trading.

One person commented: “Wish all the lovely staff good luck. They were always very friendly and made the best coffee around.

“Much better than Costa. Will miss it, was a lovely treat at Dalton Park. No other decent coffee places there now.”