MILAN – With the easing of restrictions allowing more travel on roads, Starbucks is preparing to reopen about 150 of its UK stores from this Thursday (May 14), but only for drive-thru or takeaway orders and customers will have a limited menu to order from.
The company said it will also reopen a “handful of takeaway-only stores” as it continues with preparations to allow all of its UK stores to be reopened.
Starbucks closed all of its UK sites in March after the Government-mandated lockdown was introduced.
The Starbucks Experience in the UK will look a little different, here’s what customers can expect:
- ‘To-Go’ only model – offered via Drive-Thru, takeaway or delivery – minimising partner and customer touchpoints. All drinks will be served in a to-go paper cup, although they will continue to honour the personal cup discount.
- Social distancing will be in place inside the stores along with extra cleaning protocols and precautions, including more frequent cleaning and sanitizing of high-contact surface areas and increased handwashing by partners.
- Contactless payments only either by card, phone, or the Starbucks Rewards app which also enables customers to order ahead. Plexiglass screens will also be in place across all the stores.
- As a small gesture of gratitude for everything NHS workers have and continue to do, the company is offering a free Tall beverage of their choice at all the stores.
- All stores will be serving a near-complete beverage menu, with everything from Lattes to Cappuccinos, Iced Coffees and Teas to Frappuccinos. Food will also be on offer but with a slightly more restricted menu, focused on the most popular items.
The company said it has been “learning, testing and refining operational standards every day” behind closed doors.
It said the reopening plan – which will start with stores broadly spread across the UK – will focus on ensuring the health and wellbeing of its employees and customers.
