COSTA Prestwick will be “a boost for the town” as it officially opens its doors.

In October last year, it came to light that a planning application was submitted to grant the store permission to open at the site of the old Clydesdale bank and on Thursday, May 17, members of the Costa Prestwick team welcomed the town at their grand opening.

Holli Adam, Store Manager for Costa Prestwick, said: “It is a good team that we’ve got – there’s six of us and most of us are from Ayrshire, including the three young guys that live in Prestwick.

“We want to support the local businesses and bring everyone in [to the town].

“We have had a lot of positive feedback – there’s been a lot of people interested in doing things in here too with it being so spacious, where they can come and have a meeting and not feel as if they’re disturbing everyone.

“We’re glad to be here and bringing something to the town – we don’t want to take away from the local businesses – we are a franchise, so we want to add to the town rather than take away from it.”

David McCallum, Franchise Operations Manager for Costa Prestwick, added: “We have always felt that we are a local business because we are a local franchise. 

“I know there are negative connotations of us coming in and competing with the local businesses, but we feel that we are a local business as well.”

Starting his monthly surgeries at Costa, Councillor Hugh Hunter commented: “I welcome the addition to Prestwick. I think it is great that we have a national company investing in Prestwick, along with the opening of the new B&M.

“It is a boost and an indicator of how attractive it is for the town. I think it will add to the town because I was a strong opponent for the Wetherspoons and I was wrong about it and it has brought more people to the town and based on that, Costa will prove a new clientele and it is beneficial for the town.

“I will also be holding monthly surgeries from July in Costa on the third Saturday of each month.”

The Red Lion and B&M also opened in Prestwick last week.