The coffee and sandwich chain will open the site in May with Motor Fuel Group, building on its relationship with the forecourt operator that saw it trial Pret stores within its petrol stations back in 2021.
The move is part of a focus by Pret to introduce different formats to its customers. Last year it opened two new format regional shops through franchise partners – in Broughty Ferry, near Dundee (pictured below), and Maidenhead in Berkshire – that are more focused on the dine-in experience with more comfortable seating, made-to-order food, full crockery service and a children’s play area.
It will be converting its Henley on Thomas store to the new format and will also be opening a new location on the north of England
Earlier this month Pret also unveiled a new look site in Bond Street tube station with digital menu boards and hand-held tills.
Speaking at MCA’s Food to Go Conference, Pret chief executive Pano Christou said that the company intended to take its time exploring its new formats.
“Really that was to try and stay close to the core of what the brand is about – great fresh food,” he said of the regional stores. “We want to take our time, learning and iterating – so we’re not going too fast on that, but we have two other locations that we’ll be putting that into.”
“We’ll spend a few more months taking learnings from that this year before pushing the button on growth.”
Christou also said that while Pret was still focused on its heartland of city centre locations and travel hubs, he had been “very heartened by the growth of some of the new formats” and that there was plenty of runway for expansion within the UK.
“We have 260 locations just north of London and we feel we can double that, pretty easily,” he said.