Starbucks to reopen 150 UK stores to serve takeaway coffee

Coffee giant Starbucks has announced that it will begin the “phased reopening” of 150 UK.The stores ​– which will reopen their doors on May 14 – will largely be made up of the brand’s drive-thru locations, joined by a “handful” of cafes offering takeaway, with delivery services expected to be introduced shortly. The move comes after Starbucks announced the closure of all its UK stores in March. 

Starbucks has said that the reopened locations will offer a “near-complete beverage menu”, but the food menu is to be “slightly restricted” and will “focus on more popular items”. The company will also be offering all NHS workers free beverages – in Tall size only, but in any variety – on the house.

The company has said it will introduce enhanced health and safety measures to the stores, including Plexiglass screens, contactless payments, social distancing measures and new cleaning protocols and increased hand-washing guidelines.  

In a letter to the company’s partners, UK general manager Alex Rayner said that the goal was to “be fully open by the end of June”.

“We have been learning, testing and refining these operational standards every day and have tailored to the specific needs of our Government and healthcare officials. You will be able to work safely in our stores.”