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

The UK high street is facing a number of closures next month, with some coming within days. Shops are closing down at an increasing rate due to economic conditions, with some blaming costs such as the increase in National Insurance for employers earlier this year.

Big name chains such as Poundland, Trespass, Sports Direct and Starbucks have all announced shutdowns. In a new blow yesterday Starbucks said it is to close some UK stores following a review of its global coffee shops.

On Thursday, the company launched a consultation over the proposed closure of a number of company-owned UK stores, putting workers at the sites at risk.

However, it did not disclose how many stores will be affected, where these are located and how many workers will be affected.

Poundland

Discount chain Poundland is shutting its Liscard, Tenby, Livingston and Lowestoft stores in October. 

Poundland closures:

• Liscard October 1
• Lowestoft October 10.
• Livingston October 12
• Tenby October 18.
• Inverness October 12.

The stores have already launched big closing down sales to get rid of their stock with some offering up to 40 per cent off.

Poundland, which employs more than 14,000 staff, has struggled financially in recent years.

Sports Direct

Huge sports retailer Sports Direct is also shutting one of its stores next month.

The Rhyl store in North Wales will be pulling the shutters down permanently in October but an exact closure date has not yet been confirmed.

The shop has already kicked off a 30% off closing down sale.

Sports Direct also pulled the plug on its Central Six Retail Park store in Coventry at the end of January.

Last year, its branches in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and on Octagon Parade in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, shut permanently.

Trespass

• Watford October 31.

Outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Trespass will close its Watford store on October 31. The shop is located on the upper mall level of Harlequin Watford shopping centre.

It has launched an “everything must go” sale ahead of its closure so that shoppers can grab a bargain.

Starbucks is to close some UK stores following a review of its global coffee shops. The company launched a consultation over the proposed closure of a number of company-owned UK stores, putting workers at the sites at risk.

However, it did not disclose how many stores will be affected, where these are located and how many workers will be affected.

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.

Natwest

Banking giant Natwest has also announced a string of closures this month, with 20 branches going.

NatWest bank branch closures in October 2025

• Leamington Spa, Royal Priors, 59 Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4ZX – October 1
• Ringwood, 11 High Street, Ringwood, BH24 1BA – October 1
• Paignton, 15 Victoria Street, Paignton, TQ4 5DE – October 2
• Stevenage, 26-28 Queensway, Stevenage, SG1 1BS – October 7
• Wellingborough, 40 Market Street, Wellingborough, NN8 1AD – October 7
• Midsomer Norton, 3 High Street, Radstock, BA3 2LE – October 8
• Stratford-upon-Avon, 31 Rother Street, Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 6ZS – October 8
• Romsey, 27 Market Place, Romsey, SO51 8ZH – October 13
• Neath, 35 Green Street, Neath, SA11 1DB – October 13
• Redditch, Church Green House, Church Green East, Redditch, B98 8DG – October 14
• Lowestoft, 53 London Road North, Lowestoft, NR32 1BJ – October 15
• Chippenham, 30 High Street, Chippenham, SN15 3HB, October 15
• Trowbridge, 62 Fore Street, Trowbridge, BA14 8EX, October 16
• Honiton, 94 High Street, Honiton, EX14 1JL, October 21
• Mold, 48-50 High Street, Mold, CH7 1BA, October 21
• Dorchester, 49 South Street, Dorchester, DT1 1DW, October 22
• Bridgwater, 9 York Buildings, Bridgwater, TA6 3BS, October 27
• Kettering, 16 High Street, Kettering, NN16 8SZ, October 28
• Leighton Buzzard, 27 High Street, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1DX, October 28
• Bridport, 22 East Street, Bridport, DT6 3LG, October 29