Sodexo operates over 150 Costa outlets across its healthcare, defence, education and corporate services sites, but the Queen’s Hospital branch is the first full franchise.
Paul Larson, head of retail for healthcare at Sodexo, said the operation reflected the customer experience at a high street outlet and included the full range Costa food and drinks offer served by baristas trained to Costa level.
“We’re bringing what customers want in the high street into this site to improve the experience of staff and visitors to the hospital.
“Many of the staff at Queen’s Hospital work unsocial shift patterns and many visitors are seeing relatives at all times of day and night, so having a coffee brand people recognise can only improve their experience.
“Costa and Sodexo share core values around responsibly-sourced coffee and we look forward to opening more franchises at our sites.”
The coffee shop is also one of the first to open with Costa’s new contemporary design.