Starbucks has re-opened several stores across Wales, prompting plenty of queues at drive-thrus where eager customers waited to get their coffee.
Coffee fans are once again be able to grab a cup to-go at one of the sites from today (Thursday May 14).
The popular chain had closed its stores in March following the coronavirus lockdown, with 150 stores due to re-open. starting from today.
Long queues were spotted at stores in Cardiff on Thursday morning as people waited to get their first Starbucks in weeks.
People were seen queuing at Coryton branch branch and Dunleavy Drive, Cardiff Bay, throughout the morning and afternoon, as the chain began a phased re-opening of their drive-thru locations and a "handful" of takeaway-only stores across the UK.
The American chain said the experience won't be the same as pre-lockdown, and set out what customers should expect:
- Coffee will be to-go only to minimise interaction. All drinks will be served in a paper cup but staff will honour the personal cup discount.
- Social distancing will be in place inside stores with extra cleaning in place.
- Only contactless payments either by card, phone or the Starbucks Rewards app. Plexiglass is in place across all stores.
- NHS workers can get a free tall drink as "a small gesture of gratitude for everything" they do.
- All stores will serve a "near-complete" drinks menu. Starbucks said: "Food will also be on offer but with a slightly more restricted menu, focused on our most popular items."
In a letter to staff, Starbucks UK general manager said they "will be able to work safely" in their stores.
He said: " Every decision we make as an organisation puts your health and well-being – and that of our customers – first. The temporary closures of our stores in March was a difficult decision but the right one."
These are the stores now open in Wales (seven days a week, according to Starbucks' website):
Cardiff
Dunleavy Drive-Thru
Dunleavy Drive, CF11 0SR
Open 6am to 9pm
Coryton Drive-Thru
Longwood Drive, CF14 7EW
Open 6am to 9pm
Llanishen takeaway store
Ty Glas Retail Park, CF14 5DY
Open 7.30am to 7pm
Newport Road Drive-Thru
Newport Road, CF23 9AE
Open 6am to midnight
Bridgend
Pencoed Drive-Thru
Pencoed Technology Park, CF35 5HY
Open 6am to 10pm
Waterton Retail Park Drive-Thru
Waterton Road, CF31 3TN
Open 7am to 9pm
Swansea
Fabian Way Drive-Thru
Fabian Way, SA1 8LD
Open 6am to midnight
Llansamlet-MagicBean St Davids Retail Park store
St Davids Road, SA6 8QL
Open 7am to 9.30pm
Mold Drive-Thru
Wylfa Service Station, CH7 1UE
Open 6.30am to 7pm
Bangor takeaway store
Bangor Services, LL57 4BO
Open 6.30am to 7pm
Ahead of the re-opening, Starbucks said customers could find out which sites were serving on their store locator from Thursday.
But customers were left frustrated after the locator did not to work until around 10am.
Customers are encouraged to order online, by the app or by phone. In advice on Starbucks' website, those waiting to collect their order should wait in a "designated area" where a two-metre distance from other people can be maintained.
If not possible customers should enter the store one at a time and only when their order is ready. Stores have been told that collection times should be staggered to stop crowds outside.
