The shop has been closed for almost two weeks
Costa coffee shop on Albert Dock in Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Mystery surrounds the future of a Costa Coffee branch in the heart of the Albert Dock as it remains closed following an environmental health issue. Earlier this month, the firm’s location at the Colonnades closed to customers in the aftermath of an inspection by Liverpool Council officials.
The shop is part of the Optimum Group which operates 27 Costa Coffee franchises across Merseyside and the wider north west. The company was founded in 2006.
However, the shop remains closed to patrons with no update given on the rating handed down by health inspectors. A spokesperson for the local authority told the ECHO they could not confirm the rating handed down to the business subject to an appeal.
When approached by the ECHO, Costa did not confirm the reasons for the closure, issuing a statement which said the firm was “disappointed and concerned” by the findings. When the Colonnades location was last inspected by environmental health officials in January 2019, it was granted a score of four out of five, and deemed as “good.”
The store opened 11 years ago after the Optimum Group agreed a 15-year lease to convert two units at the Albert Dock, totalling 3,000sq ft. Around £250,000 was spent to refurbish the site when it opened in 2014.
It was the second shop to be operated by Optimum, with another location at Britannia Pavilion next to the Beatles Story. At the time of its opening, 15 people were employed at the shop that has now been shut.
Costa coffee shop on Albert Dock in Liverpool(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The windows of the store appeared to have been wiped over since it closed on Wednesday November 5. No notice was placed in the shop indicating when it is due to reopen.
In a statement, a Costa Coffee spokesperson said “immediate action” had been taken at the store following the environmental health rating handed out to the business.
It said: “Costa Coffee takes all EHO ratings extremely seriously and was disappointed and concerned to learn about the recent rating given to the Costa Coffee store on Albert Docks, Liverpool.
“The store is owned and operated by a franchise partner who has temporarily closed it while the team take immediate action to resolve the issue. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.”
The firm opened a kiosk on the Albert Dock, located by the Magical Mystery Tour in 2022.
The rating handed down to Costa Coffee has yet to be confirmed online via the Food Hygiene Agency which works in partnership with the relevant local authority, in this case, Liverpool Council.