Starbucks Drive Thru in Faverdale, Darlington, opens

The new spot, at Faverdale, has been eagerly anticipated by both customers and staff in the two-year journey it's taken to get up and running.

Plans for the American coffee giant were first approved in 2020 as part of a new development which included a Lidl and Home Bargains which are already open. 

Pictures have for the past few months shown the building, which includes a drive-thru, with signs saying it was to open "soon".

This latest outpost of the American coffee giant by franchise owners 23.5 degrees will be the first in Darlington since Starbucks on Northgate closed its doors for good in September 2017.

The town centre location was open for ten years, and 15 jobs were lost after bosses made the "difficult decision" to close.

The store manager of the new spot is 25-year-old Peter Atkinson who joined Starbucks in February and has now been placed here in Darlington to head it up.

Starbucks opened at Faverdale, Darlington led by 23.5 degrees district coach Rachael Dickinson, store manager Peter Atkinson and NASSL charity reps. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Peter, from Acklam in Middlesbrough, has been overjoyed by the response from customers to the opening.

He told the Northern Echo: "When I was brought over it was originally a March opening - but we've finally got here in June!

"There has been a bit of a build-up, we've been waiting to get in here to get it all set up. There has also been amazing weather - we couldn't have picked a better day for it.

New Starbucks at Faverdale, Darlington. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

"The response has been amazing - even yesterday when we were getting stock out people were coming over to ask if we were open and wanted to get a drink.

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New Starbucks at Faverdale, Darlington. (Image: JACK WILLIAMSON)

"Everyone who has come in has been great, saying they have been driving past every day waiting for it to open. We're here for good now!"

A collective of team members then gathered at the front door to cut the ribbon and officially open the store - and charity pick members from the National Animal Sanctuaries Support League were given the honour.

The group counted down from five and led a short round of applause following the ceremony as buzzing customers went in and out of the shop.