Around 1 in 7 stores will re-open.
Following in the footsteps of global chains such as McDonald’s, KFC and Costa, Starbucks has confirmed that 150 stores in the UK will re-open this week, including drive-thrus.
Confirming the news in a statement, a large number of drive-thru restaurants, as well as a handful of takeaway only stores, will re-open this Thursday, May 14, with increased health and safety measures in place.
All orders will be served as ‘to-go’, with social distancing within stores and extra cleaning protocols being enforced to help keep staff and customers safe during the pandemic. Additionally, customers will be required to pay via Contactless card payments only and plexiglass screens have been installed in stores to create a barrier between customers and workers.
A “near-complete” menu will be available to order from, with both hot and iced drinks available. Food, on the other hand, will be served as a limited menu, with only popular items up for grabs. As a gesture of gratitude, once the stores re-open this week, NHS workers will be able to pick up a free Tall beverage of their choice at all stores.
The re-opening comes as some driving restrictions have been lifted under the new lockdown rules, with government minister George Eustice saying drive thru’s were “made for the social distancing situation that we are in”.
It’s currently unconfirmed which stores will be part of the limited re-opening, however, customers will be able to check if their local is re-open here on May 14.