Starbucks has submitted plans to take over a former fish and chip shop.

The coffee chain looks set to move into the empty Dean’s Plaice chippy on the Old Thanet Way, Whitstable.

The planning application has been submitted by Cobra Coffee, a Starbucks UK franchised business partner, to Canterbury City Council.

If approved it would be the town’s first standalone store, although there is currently one within the Sainsbury’s unit in Reeves Way.

There is also one at the A299 coastbound services, just a matter of minutes away from the proposed site.

The application shows signs would be erected on the building, marked with the famous coffee logo.

The news comes despite the firm battling with a slump in global sales amid a backlash to price increases and boycotts sparked by the Israel-Gaza war.

It was confirmed yesterday chief executive Laxman Narasimhan is to step down, with Brian Niccol, the head of Mexican grill chain Chipotle, stepping up to the plate.

Despite the plans, Starbucks has yet to confirm the move.

A company spokesperson said: “We are always looking for new locations and opportunities to bring the Starbucks experience to customers in the UK, but at this time we have no news to share about plans for Whitstable, Kent."

Formerly known as Ernie’s Plaice, the chip shop was rebranded as Dean’s Plaice after Dean Tevfik took over the establishment from his father in 2021.

Bosses closed the restaurant on June 16, before ceasing takeaway trading six days later.

Although the Whitstable site is now closed, the business still trades out of Herne Bay.