Caffe Nero plans to open at Aberdeen railway station – yards from upstart rival

The coffee firm could take on space created in a major £8 million revamp of the building.

By Ben Hendry

January 30 2024, 11:45 am

The Caffe Nero could open at the front of Aberdeen railway station. Image: Ben Hendry/DC Thomson

Caffe Nero could soon open a new coffee shop at Aberdeen Railway Station – just yards away from a major rival.

Proposals indicate that the firm could take on an empty unit just across from the entrance to Union Square.

The space is one of four created in a major refurbishment of the Aberdeen station.

It is currently listed as “under offer” on the Scotrail website, which boasts of the 2.7 million passengers (and potential customers) who pass by every year.

The Caffe Nero could open at the front of Aberdeen railway station. — The Caffe Nero would open in one of the “station spaces” at the building. Image: Ben Hendry/DC Thomson

Coffee shop could open amid plans to increase train travel

Upgrades worth £8 million were completed at the station in 2022.

And plans for the new cafe come as railway bosses expect an increase in passengers over the coming years, with more links promised between Aberdeen and the Central Belt.

Blueprints indicate there would be room for more than 100 customers inside the proposed Caffe Nero.

How the front of the station looks now, with the empty space available to lease. Image: Ben Hendry/DC Thomson

A drawing of how the new Caffe Nero at Aberdeen railway station would look from the Union Square entrance. Image: Avison Young

Could Caffe Nero at Aberdeen railway station compete with coffee rival?

The move comes amid brewing tensions between the global chain and upstart rival Black Sheep Coffee, which opened its first city venue just yards away last year…

Caffe Nero last year flitted from its long-term address at the junction of Market Street and Union Street.

It came after Black Sheep Coffee declared war on its more established rival amid huge UK-wide expansion plans.

The former Caffe Nero on Union Street, which closed last year. Image: Ben Hendry/DC Thomson

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The newcomer opened up at the former Patisserie Valerie in Union Square in May and, by August, had announced plans to take over the old Caffe Nero unit on the Granite Mile.

Rumours circled that Black Sheep Coffee outbid Caffe Nero for the premises when the lease came up, having previously encouraged landlords to get in touch.