Costa Coffee Opens Drive-Through at Basildon Festival Leisure Park, Creating 15 Jobs

Costa Coffee has opened its first drive-through in Basildon, planting a new flag at Festival Leisure Park just a short distance from the company's own roasting facility, one of the largest in Europe. The new site, which sits opposite Wendy's within the park, combines a drive-through lane with both indoor and outdoor seating and has created 15 new local jobs.

Area manager David Gabsi called the launch "a really exciting moment for Costa Coffee," adding: "We're thrilled to bring our first Drive Thru to the area, continue growing in Basildon, and give the local community even more ways to enjoy their favourite coffee, faster and easier than ever before."

The Basildon roastery, which produces 45,000 tons of coffee annually, has long anchored Costa's relationship with the town. Richard Holden, MP for Basildon and Billericay, said he had recently toured the facility himself. "As the home of Costa's roastery, which I had a look around recently, our town has long played a central role in the brand's success, and it's fantastic to see that investment continuing locally," Holden said. "The creation of 15 new jobs and a new, convenient offering for residents and visitors alike is great news for our community and for Basildon's economy."

The store serves Costa's full range of handcrafted coffees built around its Mocha Italia Signature blend, alongside freshly baked pastries for morning and afternoon customers. The drive-through runs from 6am to 10pm Monday through Saturday and 8am to 8pm on Sundays. Costa and Festival Leisure Park management marked the opening with a promotion offering one customer a £100 gift card.

The building itself had stood empty for months before Costa fitted it out, making the opening a visible turnaround for that corner of the leisure park. Sam Journet, leader of Basildon Reform, welcomed the arrival: "Investments like this are always welcome and show there is still confidence in Basildon as a place to visit, work and spend time with family and friends. Festival Leisure Park remains an important part of our local economy, and new additions like Costa help create jobs, boost footfall and bring more choice for residents."

Andy Barnes, leader of the Basildon Conservatives, echoed the sentiment more simply: "It's always good to welcome new businesses into the borough. Festival Leisure Park remains a great destination for a night out."

The Basildon opening is part of a broader drive-through push for Costa, which added a drive-through in Alcester, Warwickshire last September. The chain now operates more than 2,700 coffee shops across the UK and Ireland, and the Basildon site reinforces a format the company has been expanding steadily beyond its traditional high-street footprint.