The latest openings in Burntwood, Stevenage and Hinckley strengthen the franchise operator’s drive-thru and drive-to portfolio as it pursues an ambitious UK expansion strategy.
Starbucks franchise partner Queensway Coffee Houses has opened three new stores across the UK in just two months, accelerating its expansion as it works towards doubling its estate to 60 locations by 2030.
The latest openings include a new drive-thru restaurant in Burntwood, alongside drive-to locations in Stevenage and Hinckley. The launches strengthen Queensway’s presence across regional UK markets, with the operator focusing on convenient formats designed to serve commuters, motorists and customers on the move.
The expansion reflects the growing importance of drive-thru and roadside locations in the UK coffee market, where operators are increasingly targeting retail parks, business parks and prominent roadside sites to capture everyday demand.
Karim Jivraj, Group Franchise Director at Queensway, said: “Every new store opening is a proud moment for our teams as we deliver our growth plans for the business. It takes strong leadership, careful preparation and the right recruitment and training to open successfully. These launches are a brilliant example of our teams working together to create welcoming stores with great standards for our customers.”
Queensway is among Starbucks UK’s earliest franchise business partners. The company entered the Starbucks franchise network in 2015, acquiring 13 stores from Starbucks UK as it established its Queensway Coffee Houses business.
It has since expanded its portfolio to approximately 30 stores across England, with operations spanning 13 counties. Its locations include Staffordshire, Gloucestershire and Cambridgeshire, among other regional markets.
The business employs more than 400 people across its Starbucks operations and is pursuing a strategy to more than double its existing portfolio, reaching 60 stores by 2030.
Queensway is actively seeking additional drive-thru and drive-to opportunities, particularly in high-visibility roadside locations, retail parks and business parks. Its expansion pipeline includes sites progressing through legal processes and board approvals.
Jivraj said the company had a healthy pipeline of opportunities and wanted to maintain its recent expansion momentum.
A Multi-Brand Franchise Operator
Beyond Starbucks, Queensway has an established presence in international franchising. Through Queensway Europe, the group operates KFC restaurants in Austria and Slovakia, where it holds exclusive development rights for the brand in both markets.
The wider Queensway Group also has interests in hospitality, including Sloane Place and The Sloane Club in London.
Its expansion in the Starbucks network highlights the role of experienced multi-unit franchise partners in scaling international brands through regional development strategies. For Starbucks, partnerships with established operators provide an avenue for growing its UK footprint through locally managed businesses with existing operational and recruitment capabilities.
With three new openings delivered in two months and further locations in its pipeline, Queensway is positioning itself for another phase of growth in the UK coffee market.
