Coffee Republic is dipping its toe into continental-style drinking culture as some cafés have started to sell alcohol. Speaking to British Baker at Caffè Culture, UK franchise director Kevin Frostick said Coffee Republic hadn’t really pushed the concept of licensed cafes, but where franchisees wanted to sell alcohol, the company had helped with alcohol licence applications to local authorities.

"It’s just a handful, three or four, at the moment," he said. Frostick said some councils were not willing to grant the licences, but others welcomed the move towards a continental European drinking culture. One of the franchises selling alcohol, in Crawley, Sussex, is offering both chilled wine and beer.

Coffee Republic was at Caffè Culture to promote its concessions. Frostick said that the quality of enquiries at the show had been high.