Costa confirms cafe closure as customers left heartbroken

A Costa Coffee branch is set to close its doors later this month, ending more than a decade of serving loyal customers. The official closure date hasn't been confirmed yet, but a spokesperson for the company said that the branch will close 'later this month.' The affected outlet is the main Costa location inside The Trafford Centre's Great Hall in Manchester, which has traded there for almost 20 years. The Trafford Centre, which welcomes millions of visitors each year, is home to over 200 stores, restaurants, and leisure attractions, as well as a cinema.

Despite the store's longevity, it will soon stop serving drinks. However, the coffee shop within the NEXT store and within the Odeon cinema will remain open.

The company said its employees will be reassigned to nearby branches.

A Costa Coffee spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: "We can confirm that our Costa Coffee store in the Trafford Centre will close for trade later this month. Our talented team of baristas will be redeployed to our nearby stores in central Manchester.

"Our Costa Coffee stores in NEXT and The Odeon within the Trafford Centre remain open for customers to enjoy their favourite Costa coffee."

One customer reacted to the news online by commenting: "No! I always go in there."

In the past year, over 20 branches have closed, including recent shutdowns in Westbourne, Pinner, and Whitstable.

The company operates approximately 2,000 outlets across the UK and Ireland.

Costa Coffee was founded in 1971 in London by two Italian brothers, Sergio and Bruno Costa.

They originally started by supplying roasted coffee to caterers, hotels and restaurants via black cabs. Their passion for quality coffee led them to open their first store in Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, in 1981.

Over the years, Costa expanded across the UK and internationally, becoming one of the biggest coffee chains in the world. It's the second largest coffeehouse in the world after Starbucks.