New coffee shop has bean coming

COSTA Coffee has confirmed plans to open a new outlet this year.

Speculation has been building over the future of a premises in the centre of Gatley, Stockport – which has several independent coffee shops – since a gift and card store closed more than a year ago.

Proposals for a coffee shop at the address on Church Road were approved by the council’s planning committee last month, and another application has been submitted to demolish the current single-storey building and build a two-storey extension, while rebuilding a rear extension.

Last month Costa’s website listed the address as one of its outlets – sparking widespread rumours in the community – but a spokesperson for the firm has since said that the store locator was ‘prematurely updated’ and at the moment the unit, formerly occupied by Occasions card and gift shop, remains empty.

However, subject to planning approval, it is hoped that a coffee shop will open at that spot.

A Costa spokesperson said: “As the UK’s favourite coffee brand, Costa works closely with local planning departments to open new stores for the benefit of their local communities, creating new jobs and providing popular social meeting places.

“Gatley is one such location where one of our partners is currently finalising a revised plan for a new Costa store that we hope, if approved, will open in 2017.

“Our store locator was prematurely updated with this information.”