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
East-Asian inspired lifestyle brand KENJI confirms new Leeds store
If you're a fan of a blind box, then you're going to love this.
Because very soon, we'll be able to get our hands on a range of quirky gifts, collectable toys and cute character merchandise as popular lifestyle brand KENJI prepares to open a new store at White Rose Shopping Centre.
And just in time for us to get stuck into the Christmas shopping.
KENJI brings together East Asian-inspired design, playful characters, and lifestyle products perfect for gifting and collecting.
The new White Rose store will invite guests to enter the world of their original and exclusive characters including Underverse, Caw-Ji, and Capybara Pon Pon, as well as browsing delightful collections including stationery, toys, accessories, and snacks.
The brand-new store has been created to be a playful and immersive space, with areas dedicated to blind box collectables, character capsule collections, keyrings, and accessories alongside a character statue photo spot.
Steven Foster, Centre Director at White Rose Shopping Centre, said: “We’re excited to welcome KENJI to our retail line-up at White Rose. The brand perfectly reflects the UK’s growing interest in East Asian pop culture, and makes getting to know new characters and collections fun, immersive, and accessible.
“We know our guests will enjoy KENJI’s unique new store, a perfect addition to White Rose in the run up to the festive season, and we look forward to sharing an opening date soon.”
Eddie Shepherd, Managing Director of Kenji, said: “We’re delighted to bring the KENJI brand and experience to Leeds White Rose, and feel our brand is a very complementary partner for the centre. Our UK retail expansion plan had earmarked the centre for a number of years, and we’re thrilled to be opening here before the end of the year.”
We're not sure of the exact opening date just yet, but we'll keep you updated as and when we know more.
Viral Yorkshire shop urges visitors to avoid weekends as huge queues form
Clementine Hall
A viral apothecary shop in Yorkshire has warned visitors about huge queues forming outside its doors, urging people to visit during the week if they want to avoid the crowds.
The Cabinet of Curiosities in Haworth has become a popular destination for those looking to really get into the autumn spirit.
And it seems like there's a lot of people who are looking to do so, as huge queues have been forming along the quaint cobbled streets of Haworth.
So much so, that owner Carolin had to issue a statement via The Cabinet of Curiosities Instagram page.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It reads: "Weekends in Haworth have become particularly busy during Autumn and we are so grateful to all those lovely souls who have patiently queued to visit the shop.
"We are so honoured that you are happy to wait to come in to our magical apothecary shop, and I can’t quite believe it when I look out of the windows and see the queue snaking up the cobbles. Be assured that the queue does move fast and it makes for a far more pleasurable visit if there are fewer people in the shop at once.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"If you would rather avoid the busy times it’s best to visit during the week if you can. Our shop is open 7 days a week 10-5, but to make sure all the shops in Haworth are open then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are probably the best days to visit.
"We are doing our best to keep up with restocking and our fabulous workshop witches are busy blending, filling and packing every day to keep to keep the shelves stocked. We are humbled and forever grateful that you love our little shoppe, and hope you enjoy your potions and your visit to The Cabinet of Curiosities."
The Hoot -
26th April 2023 
