Pret A Manger is opening its first ever UK drive-thru this May – here is everything we know

Credit: Shutterstock Pret A Manger is set to open its first ever UK drive-thru this spring, marking a major shift in how the high-street favourite serves its coffee and baguettes.

Pret A Manger is set to open its first ever UK drive-thru this spring

Pret will launch its first drive-thru site in May in partnership with Motor Fuel Group, the UK's largest forecourt operator.

The exact location is still under wraps, but it will be at a roadside forecourt, letting drivers grab their morning latte or posh cheddar and pickle baguette without leaving the car. This is part of a wider push into travel-based spots such as service stations and airports.

Why Pret is doing drive-thru now

Pret's CEO Pano Christou first revealed the brand was exploring drive-thrus back in November, arguing that Pret's fresh product offer sets it apart from rivals. He suggested there could be potential for up to 400 travel locations, from airport kiosks to roadside drive-thrus.

With commuters and road trippers up for quicker, more convenient stops, a Pret drive-thru lets the chain compete more directly with Costa and Starbucks' established roadside presence.

Pret already has 60 walk-in roadside locations, with 30 more on the way

Right now, Pret already has 60 walk-in roadside locations, with 30 more on the way, including new drive-thru sites. Across the UK as a whole, the brand wants to grow from around 500 shops to 1,500, focusing heavily on travel hubs like airports and service stations. That means you're likely to see more Pret signs lighting up forecourts, motorway services and regional high streets over the next few years.

Pret A Manger's new formats beyond the drive-thru

The drive-thru is just one strand of Pret's new-look strategy.

In 2024 it opened two "fresh format" regional coffee shops in Broughty Ferry near Dundee and in Maidenhead, with more of a dine-in feel: made-to-order food, comfier seating, crockery rather than disposables, and even a children's play area. The same format is due to roll out at Pret's existing Henley-on-Thames site and at a new, yet-to-be-revealed location in the north of England. For drivers, the first Pret drive-thru means easier access to the brand's sandwiches, salads and coffee without battling station crowds or city-centre queues.

For Pret, it's a chance to move beyond its London-heavy footprint and tap into roadside and regional trade, from commuters to families on long journeys.

And with more travel-focused sites and new caf? formats on the cards, your next motorway stop or small-town high street is increasingly likely to come with a Pret attached.