Surrey Sports Park to open a Starbucks

The new Starbucks coffeehouse, with a 120-seat café area as well as an outdoor seating area for an additional 130 people, forms part of the multi-million pound Surrey Sports Park development, owned by the University of Surrey. The new Surrey Sports Park, is due to open in 2010 and is widely expected to be one of the premier training facilities ahead of the London 2012 Olympics. It is anticipated that Starbucks coffeehouse will create around 20 local jobs when it opens. Surrey Sports Park, managing director, Jason Harborow, said: "Starbucks is a premium global brand and is an ideal partner for us. Relaxation and opportunities to socialise will be key components of the complex and the Starbucks name will significantly enhance this offering. "In addition to being a centre which the entire region can enjoy, it is our ambition to attract some of world's leading international athletes so we are delighted to be working with a brand which will be recognised by everyone coming to the Surrey Sports Park." The introduction of Starbucks licensing to the UK in 2005 has enabled it to share the 'Starbucks Experience' with new customers in locations which previously would not have been accessible to the brand, such as hotels, transport hubs, business centres and universities. Such partnerships have also run successfully in the United States since 1996 with over 3,800 Starbucks licensed stores currently in operation.