Latest figures reveal that the number of UK coffee shops more than doubled in the last decade. Jessica Frank-Keyes takes a closer look…

The number of coffee shops in Britain is set to overtake pubs by 2030, according to research by an industry organisation.

The UK Coffee Report revealed that three new coffee shops are opening their doors in the UK every day, while the number of pubs is falling.

The report, commissioned by the London Coffee Festival, was published in April and shows that the coffee industry contributes £9.6bn to the UK economy, with an estimated 24,601 coffee shops employing 160,000 baristas nationwide and serving 2.4bn cups every year.

The British Beer and Pub Association reported last year that the number of pubs and bars in London fell from 4,835 in 2001 to just 3,615 in 2016.

Meanwhile, the number of places you can buy a cappuccino across the UK has more than doubled, growing from 10,000 in 2007 to 24,000 today.

Jeffrey Young, the founder of The London Coffee Festival, said: “Even in the face of market uncertainty with Brexit, the UK’s love affair with coffee shows no signs of stopping.

“For the industry to be contributing almost £10bn per year to the economy is an incredible achievement.”

He added: “The London Coffee Festival is a celebration of coffee culture and an industry that is so important to the nation both financially and culturally.

“The buzz you feel as you walk through the door is a testament to the passion for coffee that has grown in this country.”

The London Coffee Festival, an annual event celebrating the capital’s vibrant culture of all things caffeinated, ran from Thursday, April 12 to Sunday, April 15. 

Featured photo by Jessica Frank-Keyes