The coffee giant submitted a bid in January to build a unit next to The Food Warehouse at Ashford Retail Park in Ashford, Kent, which would have occupied 43 parking spaces in the already busy 535-space car park.

Despite Starbucks' assurance of a "shared spaces agreement" with the retail park owners, Ashford Borough Council officers remained sceptical. Their report stated: "The proposed development has not satisfactorily demonstrated that sufficient off-street parking would be provided to serve the new unit, nor that adequate parking provision would be retained for the wider retail park."

They also expressed concerns about potential highway safety issues and inconvenience for other road users due to increased on-street parking.

The proposed one-storey branch, which would have joined existing outlets in the town centre, Designer Outlet, railway station and inside Cineworld, was expected to create 20 jobs. However, seven objections were lodged against the scheme on the council's planning portal.

Regular shopper Bruce Field, 65, from New Romney, has voiced his concerns regarding the bustling out-of-town shopping area, stressing that it's already home to Greggs, Costa, and a cafe within Dunelm. He emphatically stated: "We need the parking, we can't do with less parking here because it is always busy."

Additionally, Field pointed out: "We have coffee shops already. It would put me off coming here, I would go to Folkestone instead."

In other news, Starbucks had once shown interest in opening a drive-thru at the old Ashford International Sports and Social Club site on Beaver Road, but their bid to purchase the land was rejected.

The site of the former working men's club might soon see a transformation into two blocks of flats. However, Starbucks declined to comment on the matter.