Pret offers customers 'all you can drink' for £20 a month as coffee shop wars begin across the UK's high streets

The war between coffee shops has begun as Pret unveiled a service allowing customers to drink five cups of coffee each day for £20 a month.

The offer – which could add up to 150 drinks a month – will cover all barista-made coffees as well as teas, hot chocolates, smoothies and frappe drinks.

Buying five £2.40 Pret cappuccinos over 30 days would normally cost a customer £360.

Under the scheme, the drinks have to be bought at least 30 minutes apart and can only be for one person.

The move is likely to cause coffee shop wars across the UK's high streets.

The service was launched as part of a major shift in the company’s model after being hit by dwindling commuter numbers.

The coffee and sandwich shop chain axed 2,800 roles last week after reporting that sales had been significantly hit by low footfall in city centres following the coronavirus pandemic.

It said the subscription will officially launch next Tuesday.

Pano Christou, chief executive officer of Pret, said its coffee sales have grown faster than its food sales since reopening sites as it continues on the path to recovery.

In May, the company, which was bought by JAB Holdings in 2018, expanded into its own branded supermarket coffee products for the first time, launching a range of coffee beans and pre-grounded coffee on Amazon.

Christou said: “As people across the UK begin to get back to the things they’ve missed, our new subscription service is perfect for customers who have been craving one of our barista-prepared drinks.

“Whether you’re a coffee enthusiast or tea devotee, we hope this new service helps you start your day strong.

“This is just the first step in our plan to bring Pret to more people.

“We now have the building blocks to establish Pret as a multi-channel, digitally-led business, and YourPret Barista is the first big launch we’re able to deliver through our new technology platform.”