An American coffee chain has opened its latest cafe in Reading at an increasingly busy out-of-town shopping area.
The Starbucks opened recently at The Brunel Retail Park in Whitley, serving up coffees, snacks and more to customers.
The cafe is open from 7.30am to 7pm Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 4pm on Sundays.
Starbucks took over the cafe unit at the retail park from rival chain Costa Coffe, which closed months ago.
In the summer, the American chain applied for advertising consent to add its trademark mythical siren coloured in white and green to the unit.
The operators went ahead with the advertising changes prior to approval from Reading Borough Council’s planning department.
You can view the designs by typing reference 240850 into the council’s planning portal.
It is the seventh Starbucks to open in the town, with the chain operating two kiosks at Reading station, a kiosk at the upper mall in The Oracle, a cafe at the Butter Market, its drive-thru at Reading Link Retail Park and a cafe further afield at the Sainsbury’s superstore in Calcot.
Meanwhile, Starbucks closed its cafe at The Oracle Riverside in April, and hopes to open another drive-thru at Shepherds Hill in Woodley if granted planning permission.
In other news at Brunel Retail Park, The Range opened in an enlarged shopping unit on Friday, September 20.
Furthermore, the Subway next to the cafe has reopened after a temporary closure.
Street imagery taken during the daytime in June 2023 appears to show the Subway closed, with no lights on and no outdoor seating for customers.
However, the Subway was seen open at 7.15pm on Saturday, September 28.
Its opening hours from 7am to 8pm on weekdays, 8am to 8pm on Saturdays and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.
