Costa Coffee has applied for planning permission to open a branch on Stoke Newington High Street, replacing TSB bank, which closed in January.
Plans for the franchise at 133 Stoke Newington High Street, are now out for consultation and await approval from the Council.
The application for @CostaCoffee at 133 #StokeNewinton High St (former TSB) #N16 is now out for consultation. https://t.co/5cySpF5OyA pic.twitter.com/N5kMEihcQr
— Nick Perry (@realnickperry) February 28, 2017
News of Costa’s potential arrival on the high street gained a mixed reaction from Stoke Newington residents, as it could pose a threat to independent cafes.
Whilst @CostaCoffee might be seen to democratise the coffee shop offers in N16, it's too late and now just threatens an overcrowded market.
— Nick Perry (@realnickperry) February 28, 2017
Esther Bloom, a local resident said: “We are up to our eyeballs in independent cafés. Stoke Newington doesn’t need tedious chains like every other high street in the country.”
“We have enough coffee choice here. Plus, Costa’s coffee and food is f****ing terrible.”
Stoke Newington local Charlotte Williams said: “I don’t see what harm Costa will do. P*** a few hippies off I guess, but that’s about it. Stokey is known as somewhere full of eating and drinking places. Why not add to it?”
Another local resident said: “Costa is accessible to all. There is nothing for those less fortunate at whole foods or artisan coffee shops.”
A spokesperson for Costa said: “We work closely with planning departments across the country to open new stores for the benefit of their local communities, creating new jobs and providing attractive and popular social meeting places. We are currently evaluating opportunities in Stoke Newington, but have no confirmed plans in place at this stage. If Costa does take over the site, it expects to create up to 10 local jobs.”
Image is an artist’s impression of the new Costa Coffee.
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