Starbucks has confirmed it is closing a number of its coffee shops in the UK, with reports suggesting 10 will shut before the end of October
Starbucks, the global coffee shop behemoth, has announced the closure of 10 UK stores by the end of October 2025 due to challenging trading conditions.
The company had previously hinted at some UK closures following a review of its worldwide outlets, but did not provide specifics regarding the number of affected stores, their locations, or the impact on staff. However, it’s now confirmed that 10 branches will shut down this month.
The hospitality giant operates approximately 520 company-owned stores in the UK, alongside numerous franchise-owned coffee shops.
It’s estimated that over 5,600 people are employed by Starbucks across the UK. The chain explained that it plans to close locations where it hasn’t been able to “create the physical environment customers” desire, and where profitability isn’t sustainable.
Despite these closures, Starbucks maintains that it is still on course to open 80 new UK sites, reaffirming its commitment to the country.
The first store to close was the Starbucks branch at Brunel Retail Park in Whitley on Wednesday, October 16. This was followed by the Leyton Mills Retail Park store on Sunday, October 19, and the London Bridge Station outlet on Monday, October 20.
The remaining stores – located in Balham, Glasgow Exchange Place, King’s Lynn in Norfolk, Muswell Hill, Aberdeen’s Holburn Junction, and Holland Park – were all scheduled to cease operations yesterday, Sunday, October 26.
In addition to its company-owned stores, Starbucks also operates a number of franchise-owned coffee shops across the UK.
Last month, the group unveiled plans to shrink its North American shop portfolio by 1% this year and axe approximately 900 head office positions.
This represents the second occasion since 2018 that Starbucks has slashed corporate roles, having previously made around 350 employees redundant.
Earlier this year, the firm eliminated 1,100 corporate positions in February. Starbucks also disclosed it will trim its portfolio of shops in North America by 1% this year and will axe around 900 head office positions there.
It marks the latest round of cuts from chairman and chief executive Brian Niccol, who joined the firm a year ago.
In February, Mr Niccol – who faced backlash over his use of a private jet to commute from California to its offices in Seattle – unveiled plans to make 1,100 workers redundant.
In a statement, Starbucks said: “We have conducted a review of our coffeehouse portfolio in North America and certain stores have been identified for closure where it has not been possible to create the physical environment customers and partners (employees) want, and where there isn’t a path to financial performance.
“In Europe Middle East & Africa (EMEA), we have conducted a similar review of our company-operated store portfolio with the goal of ensuring that our stores are correctly located, generating appropriate levels of foot traffic and operating in the right formats.
“While the EMEA business is on track to meet its commitment to open 80 new stores in the UK and 150 across EMEA this financial year, some stores in the UK, Switzerland and Austria will close as a result of this portfolio review.”
Starbucks, established in 1971, now boasts over 40,000 outlets worldwide.
Starbucks has already closed four sites at the following locations:
- Ilford, London (225-227 High Road) – closed on Thursday, October 2
- Brunel Retail Park, Whitley – closed on Wednesday, October 16
- Leyton Mills Retail Park, London – closed on Sunday, October 19
- London Bridge Station – closed on Monday, October 20
A further six stores were set to close at the following locations yesterday (Sunday Oct 26):
- Balham, London – closing Sunday, October 26
- Exchange Place, Glasgow – closing Sunday, October 26
- Kings Lynn, Norfolk – closing Sunday, October 26
- Muswell Hill Broadway, London – closing Sunday, October 26
- Holburn Junction, Aberdeen – closing Sunday, October 26
- Holland Park, London – closing Sunday, October 26
