Alas, after a long hiatus since the closure of their branch inside Next, Starbucks have returned to Manchester Fort, this time with a standalone store, a couple of shops down from TKMaxx. The store opened just before Christmas in 2021 and is a welcome addition to the retail park.
I was really surprised to see the store have such a poor exterior, it is poorly lit from the outside with a small Starbucks sign, it is so easy to walk past this location and even struggle to sign it, I was so surprised they didn't make the store stand out more, as it is impossible to spot at night, especially compared to nearby stores and rivals within Manchester Fort.
The interior on the other hand is great, there are plenty of tables with comfortable seating, the store looks new, modern and has a nice selection of merchandise, and has the best interior of any coffee shop or even food and beverage outlet within Manchester Fort.
The staff seem friendly and the store supports Mobile Order and Pay, I decided to try the new Valentine's Day special beverage, an Iced Berry Cappuccino, I loved the idea of combining berries with the cold foam to make the iced coffee, but was left disappointed as my drink was mostly foam, and wasn't really value for money at £4.50 before my reusable cup discount.
3* - Typical Starbucks store and welcome addition to the retail park, the staff are friendly and the store looks good, but they could take more care when making beverages to ensure maximum quality. read more