Last updated: 5 October 2026 at 03:41 BST
Update: the branch has now closed as scheduled. This article was first published on 21 September when Starbucks announced the date.
The Starbucks Western Road Hove branch at 50–51 Western Road closed on Sunday 4 October after about 20 years, affecting a familiar high-street location while employees have been offered roles at nearby stores.
In short
- The Starbucks at 50–51 Western Road, Hove, closed on Sunday 4 October 2026.
- The branch opened in August 2006 and traded for roughly 20 years.
- Starbucks said all employees were offered positions at other nearby coffeehouses.
- The company gave no location-specific reason beyond its regular review of its store portfolio.
- Nearby alternatives include 201 Western Road, Jubilee Street and Brighton Marina.
What happened
Starbucks confirmed in September that its Hove branch would stop trading on 4 October. The closure has now taken effect.
The company said it routinely reviews its portfolio to ensure stores remain relevant to customers. It did not identify rent, trading performance, the current Western Road roadworks or any other local factor as the reason for this closure.
According to the company statement reported in September and confirmed on the closing date by The Sun’s consumer desk, all staff at the Hove store were offered positions at other Starbucks locations nearby.
The branch occupied part of 50–59 Western Road, a prominent mixed retail and residential building between central Hove and Brighton. The official Starbucks listing for the address may take time to reflect the closure, so customers should not rely on older opening hours displayed in search results.
What the Starbucks Western Road Hove closure means locally
The closure removes a recognisable national operator from a busy part of Western Road after two decades. It also creates another prominent unit whose next occupier will matter to the surrounding stretch of shops, cafés and services.
The timing is notable because Western Road is already undergoing a major reconstruction. The road is closed between Holland Road and Montpelier Road for work expected to continue until 6 November, with 16 bus routes diverted. Our Western Road travel guide explains the affected stops and alternatives.
There is no verified evidence that the roadworks caused the Starbucks decision, and the company has not made that link. The overlap does, however, mean the vacancy appears during an unusually difficult trading and access period for the area.
Where customers can go instead
Starbucks directed customers to its store locator. Nearby company-listed alternatives include:
- 201 Western Road, Brighton, towards the city centre.
- Jubilee Street, Unit 6, Block 4, near North Road.
- Brighton Marina, Marina Way.
Opening hours can change, so check the individual store page before travelling. Independent cafés also operate throughout Western Road and the Brunswick area.
Brighton Locals’ view
Editorial judgement: this is a meaningful high-street closure because of the branch’s longevity and its highly visible location. The offer of alternative employment to staff is positive, but the explanation for closing this specific shop remains limited.
One closure is not evidence of a wider collapse in Hove’s café market. The more useful test will be how quickly the unit is re-let, what kind of operator replaces it and whether the current roadworks leave a lasting effect on nearby trading.
What to watch next
We will watch for a commercial property listing, a planning or licensing application from a new occupier, and removal of the old branch from Starbucks’ live store locator. A confirmed replacement tenant would change the story from a simple closure into a clearer sign of how this section of Western Road is evolving.
Featured image: the exact Western Road premises in 2015. Simon Carey / Geograph, CC BY-SA 2.0. The archive image predates the closure.
Bottom line
The Hove Starbucks has closed after roughly 20 years. Staff were offered nearby roles, customers still have several Brighton alternatives, and the next question is what takes over one of Western Road’s most recognisable retail units.
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