SHOPPERS have been left stunned after a popular café suddenly closed its doors at a busy shopping centre — with no warning.
Pret A Manger at Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth closed this month, catching loyal customers by surprise.
It had been a familiar and well-loved part of the outlet centre for years.
Gunwharf Quays is one of Portsmouth's top shopping and leisure destinations, home to over 90 outlet stores, bars, and restaurants, along with views of the iconic Spinnaker Tower.
Attracting millions of visitors every year, it’s famous for its waterfront setting and big brand discounts.
The store, which was the only Pret in Portsmouth, is now closed without notice.
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No signs were put up, and there has been no official explanation from the café chain about the sudden move.
A spokesperson for Gunwharf Quays said: "We’re making significant investments in Gunwharf Quays to create a vibrant, all-day destination where guests can enjoy a memorable experience from the moment they arrive, to when they leave every time they visit.
"We are sorry to see it close."
The Tower at Gunwharf Quays, one of the site's most famous landmarks, will also receive a huge investment as part of plans to upgrade and modernise the entire area.
There is no news yet about what will replace the empty site.
The shock closure comes as the company makes sweeping changes across the UK, including a major shake-up to its loyalty programme.
The Club Pret subscription, once offering five free barista-made drinks a day for £30 a month, has now been overhauled.
From today, members will get 50 per cent off five drinks a day instead, and the food discount has been axed altogether.
The monthly fee has dropped to £10, with a £5 promotional offer available until March 2025, but many loyal customers are furious over the cutbacks.
One angry fan wrote on X: "Have a word I will be cancelling as I think many others will be!!! Shame on you."
Another added: "Pret changing their subscription to 50 per cent off five drinks instead of it being free… that just ruined my day."
Pret defended the decision, saying the changes will bring better value for all customers, not just subscribers.
Managing director Clare Clough said in a letter to customers: "With Club Pret subscription, our coffees, teas, coolers and iced drinks will continue to be the best offer on the high street."
The chain has also slashed prices on some menu items — including 99p organic filter coffee and £1.99 croissants, in a bid to win back unhappy customers.
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Other high street chains such as Costa, Starbucks, Caffè Nero and Leon are offering alternative loyalty deals, with some customers now looking elsewhere for their caffeine fix.
Meanwhile, the future of the former café unit at Gunwharf Quays remains unclear, with shoppers keen to know what will move in next.
Club Pret changes will cost coffee lovers
Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements gives her verdict on the changes to the Club Pret scheme.
The Club Pret subscribe and save scheme has been hugely popular among coffee lovers.
If you enjoy treating yourself to a hot or iced beverage every day, the savings were well worth it.
The £30 a month price tag may sound fairly hefty but it works out as up to five drinks every day for just £1.
Now the cost of the scheme is falling to £10 a month which would work out as roughly 33p a day. But you now have to pay half the cost of your drink of choice.
If you buy a flat white, medium size, at £3 a go. You’d pay £1.50, plus the 33p in membership working out at £1.75 for one coffee. If you ordered another four on the same day, it would cost another £6 working out to a total of £7.75 for five drinks in one day.
To soften the blow, Pret has reduced the price of its no-frills filter coffee to 99p, down from £1.80.
But those who enjoy a drink with the added extras could find that other coffee chains are now a better deal. For example, you can sign up to chain Leon’s Roast Rewards for £25 a month and get five barista-made drinks a day. This works out at roughly 83p a day for five drinks. Not bad, not bad at all.
