A major chain has confirmed it plans to open a new branch in Watford in “late summer” this year.

Yesterday (January 31), Watford Borough Council approved plans to turn part of the former Chiquito unit in Woodside Leisure Park, off the A405, into a Starbucks location.

Although planning documents had already made it clear that Starbucks UK franchisee Cobra Coffee Ltd was set to take over the unit, because they were still pending consideration the company had declined to confirm it would be opening.

Today, after clearing that hurdle, it has confirmed it will be opening another Watford branch and added “we're not in a position to confirm an exact opening date but hope to open late summer 2024”.

Chiquito closed in Watford in 2020 before a planning application to divide the unit into two was submitted in May this year. The Starbucks store will take up the smaller part nearer Hollywood Bowl.

Nando’s had already been confirmed as the business set to open in the larger section in 2024.