Costa has has announced plans to reopen around 2,000 of its stores by the end of July.
Many of the chain's drive-thru branches had already reopened in May, and some stores on hospital sites had stayed open throughout the pandemic.
The Radcliffe-on-Trent shop reopened on Thursday, July 2.
As Costa hot chocolate has been one of the things we've missed during lockdown in our house, I thought it was time to revisit the Radcliffe branch.
Before entering the familiar franchise, I paused to read the sandwich board outside which seemed to imply you could only order online.
This disheartened me and I considered sighing and then reaching for my mobile to download the app. I stopped my sigh, however, and stepped inside the cafe....
I was welcomed by two friendly yet slightly lonely staff members who reassured me that although I was not allowed to sit down inside, I could simply order a takeaway hot chocolate from them and I did not need the app.
I had done it. I had purchased a medium sized Costa hot chocolate. I paid with a contactless card transaction, thanked the staff and went on my way.
And the hot chocolate was just as good as ever.
