Did you know that there are now more than 12,000 chain coffee shops and bakeries across the UK, roughly 1.75 outlets for every 10,000 people? This follows an impressive nationwide average growth of nearly 13% in the last three years. London leads the charge with a significantly higher than average 2.4 chain stores per 10,000 residents, making the capital one of the most café-saturated markets in Europe, though trailing Dublin and Paris both with around 3.5 outlets. The North West (1.88), Yorkshire (1.87) and Scotland (1.86) follow as regional strongholds of café culture.
According to Meaningful Vision data, bakeries and coffee shops have become two of the top three fastest-growing fast-food categories in Britain, just behind chicken chains. Between January and September 2025, bakery outlets expanded by 2.6%, while coffee shops grew by 2.4% compared with a year earlier. In real terms, that means more than 334 new bakeries and around 300 new coffee shops opened nationwide in just twelve months.
Growth is not confined to the capital. The North West has emerged as the country’s most dynamic region, accounting for 17% of all new openings, followed closely by the East and East Midlands (13% each). Scotland contributed a strong 11%, while the West Midlands and Northern Ireland each added 7%. These figures show that coffee and bakery culture is no longer a London-exclusive story, it is becoming a nationwide movement.
Among leading operators, Greggs remains the driving force in bakery expansion, with a winning combination of brand familiarity, and local accessibility. In the coffee sector, Black Sheep Coffee and Caffè Nero are among the most active players.
This broad-based expansion suggests the UK market still has untapped potential. From bustling high streets to commuter hubs and smaller towns, cafés and bakeries are embedding themselves as community fixtures, offering a mix of affordable comfort, routine indulgence, and social space. The trend also reflects a diversification of formats, from compact takeaways to hybrid café-workspaces catering to new ways of working and socialising.
“New openings continue to drive traffic growth for fast-food chains, and some segments still have significant room to grow,” says Maria Vanifatova, CEO of Meaningful Vision.
Read more on Store evolution trends in the UK in our article New Openings: Who Is Gaining?