Global giant coffee shop chain Starbucks is shutting 10 stores before the end of October 2025 amidst difficult trading conditions.
Last month the brand said it was closing some UK stores following a review of its global coffee shops. At the time it did not disclose how many stores will be affected, where these are located and how many workers will be affected – but reports have confirmed 10 going this month
The hospitality business runs around 520 company-owned stores in the UK, as well as franchise-owned coffee shops.
It is understood more than 5,600 people work for Starbucks across the UK. The chain said it is planning to close sites where it has not been able to “create the physical environment customers” want, and where they are not sustainably profitable.
The coffee chain has said it is still on track to open 80 new Starbucks sites in the UK and is committed to the country.
The Starbucks branch at Brunel Retail Park in Whitley was the first to shut its doors on Wednesday, October 16. This was followed by the closure of the Leyton Mills Retail Park store on Sunday, October 19 and the London Bridge Station outlet on Monday, October 20.
The remaining locations – 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.
Starbucks, which operates around 520 company-owned stores in the UK, also has a number of franchise-owned coffee shops.
Last month, the group announced plans to reduce its North American store portfolio by 1% this year and eliminate approximately 900 head office jobs.
This marks the second time since 2018 that Starbucks has reduced corporate positions, having previously laid off around 350 employees. Earlier this year, the company eliminated 1,100 corporate roles in February.
Starbucks also revealed it will reduce its portfolio of stores in North America by 1% this year and will cut around 900 head office jobs there.
It is the latest set of cuts from chairman and chief executive Brian Niccol, who joined the company a year ago.
In February, Mr Niccol – who faced criticism over his use of a private plane to commute from California to its offices in Seattle – announced plans to lay of 1,100 workers.
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, founded in 1971, now operates more than 40,000 stores globally.
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:
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