EXCLUSIVE: The town that said no more! Cotswolds coffee lovers say Starbucks WON’T be welcome as global giant sets its sights on Stroud

• Residents and visitors of Stroud, famous for independent town centre shops, rejected coffee giant Starbucks
• The Extinction Rebellion climate campaign group was founded in local independent Woodruffs Coffee Shop
• Manager of the independent cafe Jamie Shaw said he was ‘quite surprised’ Starbucks came to the town
• Starbucks ‘will stick out like a sore thumb’ says assistant manager Anna Capell of local cafe Little Ginger

Starbucks was given a big thumbs down by the people of Stroud, famous for its independent town centre traders and the birthplace of Extinction Rebellion.

Locals are angry that the global coffee chain is going into a publicly funded new facility containing a health centre and library. The building is the town’s former Woolworths.

Stroud, population 120,000, has one international brand coffee shop already, with a Costa and residents say ‘one is enough’.

The only local to welcome in the new Starbucks was a jester-capped busker, greeting shoppers with Fool on the Hill in the August sunshine. But locals and day trippers said they will be avoiding Starbucks and sticking with the independent coffee shops to keep their hard-earned money in the local economy.

‘Part of the culture of the town is its independent coffee shops. I can count 21 of them, there may be more. It’s what makes Stroud such a lovely town,’ said Fran Line (pictured), 20, who has recently moved to Stroud

‘I am quite surprised Starbucks are coming here, we are proud to be a town full of independent shops and cafes,’ said Jamie Shaw (pictured), 43, manager of Woodruffs Coffee Shop where Extinction Rebellion was founded

Locals are angry that the global coffee chain is going into a publicly funded new facility containing a health centre and library. The building (pictured) is the town’s former Woolworths

‘The town is all about independent traders, Starbucks defies that and will stick out like a sore thumb,’ said Anna Capell (pictured), 23, assistant manager of independent coffee shop Little Ginger

Daytrippers Moira Fell (left), 67, a retired teacher from Chingford, Essex and primary school Teacher, Phoebe Lawford (right), 23, visiting from Bournemouth were both against Starbucks

Jamie Shaw, 43, manager of Woodruffs Coffee Shop where Extinction Rebellion was founded said: ‘I am quite surprised Starbucks are coming here, we are proud to be a town full of independent shops and cafes.

‘We’ve been here for over 20 years and specialise in organic high-end coffee and food. Starbucks is not known for that.’

Fran Line, 20, who has recently moved to Stroud, said: ‘Part of the culture of the town is its independent coffee shops. I can count 21 of them, there may be more. It’s what makes Stroud such a lovely town.

‘But Starbucks will survive because young people like it as a brand and it can afford to advertise.’

‘Stroud is well served for coffee shops already, we are all a bit confused by this announcement,’ said Claire Honeyfield (pictured), 59, owner of the Made in Stroud craft and gift Shop and founder of Stroud Farmers Market

Factory worker and coffee fan Tracey Bond, 58, from Stroud said: ‘I like the smaller coffee shops, they are more friendly. I will go to Starbucks if I’m anywhere else but I won’t be using the one here when it opens’.

Starbucks is not in keeping with what makes Stroud so special,’ said Caroline Buckingham (left)), 56, a sales assistant at the Moonflower Too gift shop. Grace Trevett (right), 65, said: ‘We don’t need a big corporation like Starbucks coming here and taking over’

Grace Trevett, 65, a weaver and coffee customer, from Stroud said: ‘We don’t need a big corporation like Starbucks coming here and taking over.

‘We are not opposed to big business but Stroud is a community based town and we like our community to thrive.’

Daytripper Moira Fell, 67, a retired teacher from Chingford, Essex, said: ‘I’ve never been here before but I was attracted by Stroud’s reputation for having an interesting and independent town centre.

‘It seems to me that a chain like Starbucks would detract from the character of somewhere like Stroud.’

Teacher Andre Adrisoejoko, 31, visiting from Bath, said ‘Starbucks is ok as a drive through but not for Stroud town centre.

‘When I visit again, I won’t be going to the new Starbucks, it doesn’t feel like a good fit for the town.

‘It’s not a great brand for anywhere, I much prefer independent shopping.’

Anna Capell, 23, assistant manager of independent coffee shop Little Ginger said: ‘Stroud is unique for its independent shops and places to eat and was recently voted the best place to live in the UK.

‘The town is all about independent traders, Starbucks defies that and will stick out like a sore thumb.’

Simon Vincent, 54, owner of Trading Post Records which has been selling rare vinyl in the town since 1977, said: ‘It’s a poor choice to put a Starbucks in a publicly funded building next to a medical centre and library. It’s just not appropriate.’

Caroline Buckingham, 56, a sales assistant at the Moonflower Too gift shop, said ‘Starbucks is not in keeping with what makes Stroud so special.

‘There are lots of coffee shops here already, I wouldn’t want them to be threatened by the arrival of an international chain.’

Claire Honeyfield, 59, owner of the Made in Stroud craft and gift Shop and founder of Stroud Farmers Market said: ‘My concern is that they are redeveloping an old building in the town for a public health project and library then adding a Starbucks which we don’t need.

‘Stroud is well served for coffee shops already, we are all a bit confused by this announcement.’

‘I will go to Starbucks if I’m anywhere else but I won’t be using the one here when it opens’, said factory worker and coffee fan Tracey Bond (left), 58. But busker Clive Bushell (right), 64, said: ‘The more choice there is the better’

The centre of  Stroud, Gloucestershire where an unwanted Starbucks is moving in

Stroud, population 120,000, has one international brand coffee shop already, with a Costa and residents say ‘one is enough’

Primary school teacher, Phoebe Lawford, 23, visiting from Bournemouth, said: ‘The reason I like coming to Stroud is for it’s lovely cafes and shops which you don’t get anywhere else.

‘I’m not strongly against big chains but there is already a Costa here and that is enough.

‘Starbucks will be charging more so I hope people stick with the coffee shops already here.

Busker Clive Bushell, 64, from Stroud, said: ‘As far as I’m concerned the more the merrier. We live in a capitalist society and the more choice there is the better.

‘If there is going to be big competition between Starbucks and the locals I would sing to them both one of my favourite busking tunes All You Need Is Love.’

Locals and day trippers say they will be avoiding Starbucks and sticking with the independent coffee shops

More than 3,300 people have signed a petition to block plans for the coffee chain’s outlet in a former pharmacy (stock image)

It’s the home of Extinction Rebellion and Britain’s first organic coffee shop – so it’s no surprise that opening a Starbucks in Stroud would spark a backlash (stock image)

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