A POPULAR coffee chain with some 2,000 branches is permanently closing the doors on another outlet today.
The Costa Coffee in Erdington, a suburb of Birmingham, is shutting down for good as the chain continues to close a number of stores across the country.
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Fans of the coffee shops are not happy about the closures with one caffeine lover writing online that they would miss “going in the Costa Coffee so much” and called for the outlets to be saved.
A spokesperson for Costa Coffee previously said: “Our Costa Coffee store on Erdington High Street will close its doors for trade on the 3rd of March.
“Our talented team will be re-deployed to nearby Costa Coffee’s in the local area.
“Customers can continue to enjoy their favourite Costa coffee at our Drive Thru store which recently opened on Kingsbury Road, Erdington.”
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The spokesperson added that the customers could locate the nearest store to them on the company’s website.
The news was not welcomed by Costa fans who went online to express their dismay.
One person previously wrote: “There’ll be nothing left up there.”
Another one added: “Shame by this time next year will be a ghost town.”
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“I go there every week but its going down hill very fast,” someone else said.
Reviews for the shop online describe it as “a great place to have a nice hot drink” and say the staff are “very friendly and lovely”.
Costa customer tries out iced whipped latte
The store’s closure will also impact the jazz band Rhythm and Bone who have been performing on the grounds of the Costa branch for ten years.
The group has announced on Facebook that their free lunchtime concerts are coming to an end as they struggle to find a new venue.
The band wrote: “One week to go before Costa Coffee Erdington close for Rhythm and Bone lunchtime gig.
“Once a month for the last ten we’ve played. Now struggling to find a venue!”
They continued: “We don’t get paid for these gigs, we see them as enhancing the culture of Erdington by bringing New York Supper club music to the village.”
The shutting of the store is just the latest in a round of Costa branch closures which has seen dozens of outlets shut in recent months.
Costa says it regularly reviews its store estate across the UK to ensure it’s right for its communities and teams.
This can include the closing or renovation of existing stores, or the opening of new stores.
The following sites have already closed over the last year, although a couple will be returning to their local areas.
Costa shops that have closed 2023/2024
Each of the sites which have closed have further Costas nearby, which you can find using the locator tool on the chain’s website
- Coliseum retail park in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire – June 3
- Welch Way, Witney – June 5,
- Wigan town centre – June 25
- Five Rise Shopping Centre, Bingley – July 9
- High Street, Worcester – July (relocated September 15)
- Lowestoft’s North Quay retail park – July 23 (refurbishment)
- Church Street, Oakham – September 15
- West Bridgford, near Nottingham – September 22
- Commercial Street, Newport, Wales – October
- Church Street in Malvern, near Worcestershire – November 17
- Gatwick Airport South Terminal – November
- Packhorse Road, Buckinghamshire – January 10
- King Street, Maidstone, Kent – January 20
- Chiswick High Road, London – February 6
- Bruntsfield Place, Edinburgh – February 15
Which other food and drink chains have closed?
Food and drink chains in general have been suffering in recent months 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.
In early 2023, burger chain Byron Burger collapsed into administration resulting in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Prezzo, the Italian chain, also revealed plans to shut 46 restaurants last year as a result of soaring energy and food costs, putting 810 jobs at risk.
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Although some chains have managed to persevere, like Greggs which announced huge expansion plans.
Bakery chains Wenzel’s the Bakers and Patisserie Valerie are also looking at opening new branches.
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