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Starbucks is facing two very different realities on either side of Europe. In Britain, the American coffee chain is quietly closing stores after a tough few months. But in Spain, it’s full steam ahead – with a brand-new café opening just outside Madrid. A bitter brew for British coffee lovers It’s not the best time to be a Starbucks regular in the UK. Over the past month alone, ten stores have closed, and six of them were in London – including some familiar spots for commuters and coffee lovers alike. A company spokesperson said the move was part of a “portfolio reassessment,” aimed at making sure stores are “correctly located and generating the right level of foot traffic.” In other words, Starbucks wants fewer struggling branches and more profitable ones. According to the chain, the locations that shut down were no longer delivering “the physical environment customers want” and had become financially unsustainable. Still, Starbucks insists it’s not retreating from Britain – far from it. The company says it’s still on track to open 80 new stores across the UK by the end of the financial year, suggesting a major reshuffle rather than a slowdown. Here’s a look at some of the London Starbucks locations that have now closed their doors: Ilford (225–227 High Road) – closed on October 2 Leyton Mills Retail Park – closed on October 19 London Bridge Station – closed on October 20 Balham, London – closed on October 26 Muswell Hill Broadway – closed on October 26 Holland Park, London – closed on October 26 For many regulars, that means no more morning cappuccinos at their go-to spot. For Starbucks, it’s another step in adapting to changing habits – fewer commuters, tighter budgets, and rising costs. Meanwhile, Spain’s Starbucks story looks a lot brighter While the UK downsizes, Spain is getting its caffeine shot. Starbucks has just opened a brand-new café in Alcalá de Henares, a historic city near Madrid. This new opening brings the company’s total in Spain to 165 stores, including 61 in the Madrid region. Located inside Alcalá Magna shopping centre on Calle Valentín Juara Bellot, the café covers 199 square metres and can seat 38 customers. A team of 11 baristas will manage the branch, which features the brand’s latest store design and product range. The opening also comes with a social twist. Through Starbucks’ “Aperturas con Causa” (Openings with a Cause) initiative, all proceeds from launch day are going to the Red Cross project ‘Éxito Escolar’, which supports children from vulnerable backgrounds by offering after-school tutoring and academic help. It’s a small but meaningful way to give back to the community – and a sign that Starbucks’ expansion in Spain is about more than just selling coffee. A tale of two markets – and two very different moods The contrast between the UK and Spain says a lot about how Europe’s coffee culture is shifting. In Britain, rising energy costs, higher rents and fewer office workers have taken a toll on coffee chains. Independent cafés are thriving, offering cheaper prices and local charm that big brands struggle to match. In Spain, the story is quite different. While locals have always had a deep café culture, Starbucks has managed to carve out a niche among younger and urban customers, who see it as a place to study, meet friends or work remotely – a lifestyle fit for the digital era. For Starbucks, it’s all about adjusting to local rhythms. In the UK, that means cutting back where business has gone flat. In Spain, it means leaning into growth and community engagement. Whether this new strategy will give the company a smoother ride remains to be seen. But one thing’s certain – in London, your next pumpkin spice latte might be a little harder to find.
