Counting the Costa: that’s 13 in one city

♦a city has been named the Costa capital of Britain as the coffee chain plans to open its 13th branch.

Chelmsford, Essex, will take the crown for having the largest number of Costa branches within two miles of its centre.

In April, Cheltenham was listed as having the most, with 11 outlets. But the coffee giant, founded in 1971 in London by Italian brothers Sergio and Bruno Costa, wants to open two more in Chelmsford, on a new retail park and in the city centre.

Wayne Thompson, the owner of independent sandwich and drinks shop, Slice, in Chelmsford thinks more needs to be done to protect smaller traders.

“It’s absolutely overkill. I think that it’s beginning to make all town centres look the same,” he said.

Resident Jane Collins added: “I was joking to my friends it is like living in the Costa capital. How much coffee do we need?”