Costa Coffee Opens 400th UK Drive-Thru Store

Costa Coffee has opened its 400th drive-thru store in the UK, marking a milestone in the development of its property strategy.

The new site at Norwich Broadway Enterprise Park reflects the brand’s continued investment in convenience-led formats, as drive-thru locations play an increasingly prominent role within its estate. The format has become a key component of Costa Coffee’s expansion strategy, supporting demand for accessible, on-the-go coffee experiences.

Costa Coffee is now the UK’s largest drive-thru coffee operator and plans to open up to 40 additional drive-thru stores during 2026. The pipeline reflects sustained consumer demand for speed, accessibility and quality, particularly in roadside and retail park environments.

Costa Coffee currently operates more than 2,800 stores across the UK, spanning high streets, retail parks, shopping centres, transport hubs and drive-thru locations. Alongside new openings, the business continues to invest in its existing estate, with an ongoing refurbishment programme aimed at enhancing the in-store experience. Over the past year, more than 110 high street locations and over 100 stores in shopping centres and retail parks have been refurbished.

Costa Coffee opened its first UK drive-thru in 2011 and has since played a significant role in the growth of the format. Industry data from Allegra indicates that the number of drive-thru coffee sites in the UK has increased by 6.7% over the past year, with nearly half of consumers using the format in 2025.

A majority of Costa Coffee’s drive-thru sites are co-located with a full coffee shop, offering flexibility for customers to either sit in or take away. The company has also built a pipeline of locations supported by long-standing partnerships with developers, landlords and property agents.

However, the business notes that delivering new drive-thru locations is becoming increasingly complex. Planning constraints, rising construction costs and competition for suitable roadside sites are contributing to longer delivery timelines and upward pressure on rents.

Despite these challenges, Costa Coffee continues to identify opportunities for further expansion.

The milestone forms part of a broader programme of investment across Costa Coffee’s UK estate, spanning new openings, relocations and refurbishments as the business responds to evolving consumer behaviour.

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