A Costa Coffee outlet in Lyndhurst has closed without explanation - leaving the community without two of its best-known cafes.
The branch at 38-40 High Street has been a popular meeting place since it opened in a former bookshop many years ago.
Its demise follows the temporary closure of Mettricks, which has shut following what the Southampton chain describes as "significant challenges with senior team members".
Costa Coffee has not revealed the reason why the franchise-owned branch has ceased trading.
A notice on the door says: "This store is now permanently closed. Your nearest Costa Coffee stores are Hythe and Totton. We apologise for any inconvenience caused."
A Costa Coffee spokesperson said employees at the Lyndhurst staff were "looking to be redeployed".
The Lyndhurst branch of Costa Coffee has closed without explanation (Image: Newsquest)
The chairman of Lyndhurst Parish Council, Chris Willsher, added: "Costa will be missed by many residents and we are saddened to see the closure of another business in Lyndhurst.
"The premises occupy a central position in the high street - we hope they will not remain empty for long."
READ MORE: Mettricks closes Woolston branch after battling rising costs and months of 'disruptive' works
Mettricks, which is at the other end of the main shopping area, closed in November last year.
A notice in the window says: "We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support over our opening months. The village has been as welcoming as we'd hoped and our space sat the Old Pump House turned out to be even better than we imagined - warm, cosy, bright and inviting.
"However, we've faced some significant challenges with senior team members. Simply put, we got it wrong and after careful consideration it became clear there was no quick fix.
"As a result, we've made the difficult decision not to reopen Mettricks Lyndhurst until Spring 2025.
"This extra time will allow us to build the right team and ensue that when we reopen we do so in a way that truly reflects our values and our vision for the long term."
The Lyndhurst branch of Mettricks is due to reopen in the spring (Image: Newsquest)
The former Costa Coffee outlet is being offered for rent by Trinity Rose.
A statement on its website describes the newly-closed cafe as a "substantial ground floor commercial unit that has been occupied by Costa for many years".
It adds: "The unit will be vacated shortly and all Costa-branded fixtures and fittings will be removed.
"The unit is located on the southern side of the one-way High Street in the centre of historic Lyndhurst, a very popular and sought-after town in the heart of Hampshire’s beautiful New Forest National Park.
"The town is typically busy throughout the year with locals, tourists, cyclists and walkers."
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