A new Starbucks store looks set to open its doors this month, becoming the global chain's first coffee shop in Lowestoft.

Eastern Daily Press: Starbucks is set to open in Lowestoft at the end of March.PHOTO: Nick ButcherStarbucks is set to open in Lowestoft at the end of March.PHOTO: Nick Butcher (Image: ©archant2016)

With posters and signs having gone up, and work under way in the building formerly occupied by Dorothy Perkins in the town centre, the new store looks set to bring a welcome boost to the town's economy.

A spokesman for Starbucks said: 'The store won't be opening for a few more weeks yet, however it's planned for mid-end of March.'

Lowestoft Vision BID Manager, Darren Newman, welcomed the moves to further enhance the town.

'It is great to see another national retailer invest in Lowestoft town centre,' Mr Newman said. 'We hope to announce further investment in the town in the coming weeks with more leads progressing to improve the leisure and retail offer.

'It is a big boost for everyone as Starbucks is a strong brand that will benefit the heart of the town. Along with some of the other investment – which will see the former Sam Hooks sports shop in Bevan Street East opening on March 12 as Sams Coffee House – it is great to see further improvements and more investment coming in to the town.'

Sams Coffee House is a social enterprise café run by the Access Community Trust charity, which will focus on helping young people get on the work/learning ladder and also act as a drop-in service.

Mayor of Lowestoft, Stephen Ardley, said: 'Any additional investment and employment in the town – especially in the town centre – must be a good thing.'

With Starbucks stores in Norwich and one in Great Yarmouth, the planned Lowestoft store is set to open in the former ladies' clothes shop – Dorothy Perkins – on London Road North, which closed last year. It will also replace a pop-up a discount brand clothes retail shop that was temporarily open in the town centre.

As a change of use application – from a 'clothes retail shop to a Starbucks mixed class coffee shop' – was approved by Waveney District Council for the ground floor of the building last year, the planning statement said that this 'mixed use' Starbucks coffee shop is 'different to a standard café' in that it would also function 'as a retail unit for take away purchases of beverages, snacks, and coffee paraphernalia.'

? Have you got a Lowestoft story? Email mark.boggis@archant.co.uk