Pret has announced some big changes to its coffee subscription service, including a price increase, reports The Manc.
The high street coffee chain is rebranding the service to 'Club Pret', with new perks for customers but also a new monthly fee.
A subscription to Pret, which includes five barista-made drinks per day, will now set you back £30 a month, which current members say is 'pure greed'.
The service was initially launched at £20, then jumped up to £25 in February last year.
An email sent to subscribers this morning outlined that changes that are coming as part of Club Pret.
The coffee chain is introducing a members-only discount for the first time with Club Pret, with 10% off food.
They added: "We've also listened to your feedback on iced drinks, so today we're introducing a new, bigger range of iced drink - Pret Coolers, which replace the old range of smoothies and frappes and will no longer be in shops from 5th June.
"We've also installed new ice machines, so you'll be able to get your iced coffees and Pret Coolers in over 90% of our shops. In July we'll also be adding even more choice with Pret Shakes."
The price hike will come into action from 5 June onwards, whenever each customer's billing cycle falls.
The new benefits are available straight away.
Explaining the extra £5 per month, Pret said: "No business wants to raise prices, but of the new subscription price, around £1 will cover increasing ingredient prices, £2 will go towards Pret team pay, and around £2 will help with rising energy costs.
"Over the past year, we've given a lot of thought to how we can keep giving back to our most loyal customers. These are tough times, and we want to do the right thing for the people who matter most to Pret: you, our customers, and our amazing team members who serve you every day.
"Creating Club Pret is our way of saying thank you to everyone who keeps choosing Pret."
Pret. Credit: Unsplash
Fans have been quick to voice their thoughts on social media (as usual).
One person said: "I hate it when brands try to hide a price hike. It’s dishonest. Cancelling my subscription."
Another wrote: "It's gone from £20 to £25 and now to £30 in a matter of months - it's not worth it."
Someone else joked: "Pret subscription just went up to £30, not one minute of reprieve from the #cozzielives."
One user on Twitter said: "Cancelled my subscription this morning. Without much hesitation as quality of Pret drinks and food has gone downhill recently. This hike is pure greed. Better options and more value elsewhere."
And someone else posted: "£30 pret subscription SEE YA BABE ain't no way I'm paying that for sh*t coffee. Two price increases in a year? Come off it. This was their reasoning LOL tone deaf."
Featured image: Pret
Shopping
Lucy & Yak is turning its stores into a dedicated Preloved hub for the entire weekend
Lucy & Yak is turning its Sheffield store into a dedicated PreLoved hub for the entire weekend.
If you're all about celebrating second-hand shopping, then this is the event for you.
Since 2023, Lucy & Yak has kept a more than 42,000 Yaks in circulation through its incredible PreLoved scheme.
The concept is simple, customers bring in and return their old Yaks, and once processed receive a money-off voucher to put towards their next purchase. So everyone's a winner, basically.
Images: The Sheff
And don't worry if your old pieces are damaged, as these are lovingly repaired or upcycled by their talented Re:Yak Studio team in Yorkshire before being sold on in-store to find their new homes.
This bank holiday weekend, from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 May, the entire Sheffield store will be transformed with a huge PreLoved section for you to browse.
Images: The Sheff
It's a unique opportunity to shop your favourite second-hand Lucy & Yak pieces, with special one-off items and old gems for you to get your hands on. Get in.
The special event is the latest milestone in Lucy & Yak’s broader commitment to circularity, which also includes its (Im)Perfect sales, a Facebook Marketplace for buying, selling and swapping, and Re:Yak workshops held throughout the year - community sessions that help people mend and customise their clothing.
Images: The Sheff
Lydia Coley, Managing Director at Lucy & Yak said: “We’re so excited to bring the PreLoved Weekender to our stores this May. Lucy & Yak has always been built around community, creativity and doing things a little differently, and PreLoved brings all of that together.
"We're incredibly proud of keeping over 42,000 Yaks in circulation. Every second-hand Yak has a story, and this weekend is about helping those pieces find their next home in a fun way”
So if you're looking for a fresh new colourful wardrobe for the summer, get yourself to Lucy & Yak this weekend to shop smart.
The UK’s leading K-pop retailer is opening its first Yorkshire store in Leeds
Clementine Hall
The Merrion Centre is set to welcome one of the UK’s fastest-growing specialist music retailers.
K-pop fans, you're going to love this one.
Soft launching on Friday 22 May, K-pop Korner Leeds will open initially as a pop-up store, becoming the brand’s fourth UK location and its first in the north of England.
Recognised as the UK’s leading dedicated K-pop retailer, K-pop Korner stocks official K-pop albums, signed albums, light sticks and rare collectibles imported directly from Korea.
Not only that, but the brand has developed a strong national following through fan events, trading days, concerts and exclusive product launches.
The Leeds opening follows the success of K-pop Korner’s existing stores in London Waterloo, London Euston and Nottingham, with growing demand from fans across Yorkshire and the north driving the expansion.
Anastasia Tsappis, Director of K-pop Korner, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring K-pop Korner to Leeds and finally create a dedicated space for fans in Yorkshire and the North of England. Community has always been at the heart of what we do and we’re looking forward to building a welcoming environment where fans can meet, discover new merchandise, celebrate their favourite artists and enjoy special events together.
“Our community has been asking for a more accessible location outside London and the Midlands for a long time, so Leeds felt like the natural next step. The Merrion Centre stood out because of its vibrant atmosphere, fantastic city-centre location and strong connection to entertainment and youth culture.
“We want the opening to feel like more than just a store launch. It’s about celebrating K-pop fandom and creating memorable experiences for the local community. We’re especially excited to see fans come together for our opening events and experience the energy and excitement that makes K-pop culture so special.”