Starbucks opens 50-seat coffee outlet in Heathrow

The new site was opened in time for the summer travel season.

SSP opened a 252 sq ft Starbucks coffee outlet in Heatrow’s Terminal 5.

The 50-seating capacity Starbucks has nine coffee machines that could potentially serve hundreds of customers per hour.

Inspired by the natural landscapes of coffee-growing regions, the new store is designed to offer an immersive experience focused on the centrally positioned bar. The layered curved ceiling nods to the mountainous terrain of the coffee farms, complemented by a natural colour scheme. There are also clear walkways to help passengers navigate their way through the store quickly and efficiently, whether ordering to takeaway or drink in.

The coffee shop, located in the terminal’s airside departures area, was officially opened today, in time for the busy peak summer travel season, by SSP’s Group CEO Patrick Coveney, UK and Ireland CEO, Kari Daniels, Starbucks EMEA President Duncan Moir and Retail Director at Heathrow Fraser Brown. It features two separate counters to help serve busy travellers efficiently, whether they order at the till, or in advance via their phone.

“This new store at Terminal 5 is our flagship Starbucks at the country’s flagship airport,” said Kari Daniels, CEO of SSP UK & Ireland. “We know how important it is for our customers to be served promptly – especially when they have a flight to catch. The customer journey and efficiency are at the heart of our operations, and we’ve made sure that the design of this new store allows for quick and easy service for passengers on the go. We’ve also ensured the store is future-proofed to manage growing customer numbers into the future.”

 This store opening builds on SSP and Starbucks' long-term partnership, which began 17 years ago. The first joint store opened at Heathrow in 2012 and SSP now operates four across the terminals.