Up to 10 new jobs are set to be created in Carlisle by coffee giant Costa.

The national chain is looking for new premises in the city with the aim of opening another branch of its popular cafes.
Developments though are at an early stage, the firm says.

A Costa spokeswoman said: “As the UK’s favourite coffee shop brand, we work closely with planning departments across the country to open new stores for the benefit of their local communities, creating new jobs and providing attractive and popular social meeting places.

"We are currently evaluating opportunities in the Carlisle area but have no firm plans at this stage.”

She added that the new store would create jobs for "eight-10 new jobs". The firm pays the National Living Wage to all of its employees, including those who are under the age of 25-years-old and not legally entitled to it.

The spokeswoman did not indicate exactly where Costa is looking for its new outlet but did confirm it will not be in the The Lanes shopping centre.

Costa first came to Carlisle in 1998 with a store in Ottakar's bookshop on Scotch Street, which is now Waterstones. Two years later it opened a second city centre cafe near the Old Town Hall.

Both of these cafes are still open and the spokeswoman confirmed the new one will sit alongside these and they will stay open.

The firm also has outlets in the service stations at Southwaite and Todhills.

"The new site will allow us to keep up with customer demand by providing an additional Costa for customers to visit," she added.

"It’s very early days but we will be working to a timeline with a view to open in October/November of this year."

Suzanne Caldwell, deputy chief executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, welcomed the news. She said that national chains carry out heavy market research into where they will open new outlets.

Mrs Caldwell added: "If this is somewhere they want to expand that is a good thing for Carlisle."

She also felt there was "room for both" when it came to chains competing with local coffee shops and felt the expansion of the university and new people moving to the city will have helped identify it as an area for growth.

Mrs Caldwell also pointed out that Costa was supplied baked goods by Bells of Lazonby and these are sold nationally.

Her comments were echoed by Councillor Les Tickner, Carlisle city council's finance, governance and resources portfolio holder.

He said: "Any chain - or independent - we want to attract to the city. It all just shows confidence in the city."

Dr Tickner added that a recent plan by the authority to offer reduced rates on some commercial buildings in the city may have influenced the company's decision. These would be used as offices and he feels it will mean more people in places where Costa could trade.

"We try to do all we can to encourage the big retailers."