Popular coffee chain with 1,400 UK branches suddenly shuts store

A Starbucks branch has suddenly closed its doors to the shock of coffee-loving commuters. A notice attached to the London Bridge shop simply states: "This store is now closed," with no further explanation provided.

The closure comes amid a global restructuring plan by the coffee giant, which operates over 1,400 locations across the UK. While it is not yet confirmed whether the London Bridge store is part of the planned reductions, the announcement follows similar closures elsewhere in the UK, including a branch in Ilford, East London.

A spokesperson for the Ilford store said the closure was part of a regular review of the chain's portfolio to ensure locations remain relevant to customers.

"Our 225-227 High Road store in Ilford is now closed. We thank our customers for their loyalty over the years," they added. The move came shortly after another Starbucks on the same road reopened following refurbishment, highlighting the company's approach to maintaining key locations while closing others.

Starbucks employs around 5,600 people in the UK, some of whom could face redundancy as part of the restructuring.

The chain has stated that closures will target stores where it has been unable to create the physical environment customers want or where sites are not sustainably profitable.

Despite the closures, Starbucks remains committed to the UK, with plans to open 80 new stores this financial year.

The closures in the UK mirror broader changes in North America, where Starbucks plans to reduce its store portfolio by 1% and cut approximately 900 head office jobs.

Globally, the chain intends to spend $1billion (£746million) on restructuring, focusing on underperforming locations while investing in new and refurbished sites.

In a statement, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said: "We have conducted a review of our coffeehouse portfolio, and certain stores have been identified for closure where it has not been possible to create the physical environment customers and partners want, and where there isn't a path to financial performance.

"In Europe, the Middle East and Africa, we have conducted a similar review to ensure stores are correctly located and generating appropriate levels of footfall."

The sudden London Bridge closure highlights the ongoing changes at Starbucks as the company balances global expansion with operational efficiency, leaving many customers wondering which branches may be affected next.