Coronavirus: Costa Coffee closes all branches except those in hospitals

The company said stores will close at their usual times today, and they will remain closed pending an update on government guidelines.

Across Portsmouth, Costa has 11 branches, as well as operating nine in Fareham. There are three stores in Gosport and four across Havant and Waterlooville.

Hospital branches will be an exception to closures, with the coffee chain providing free drinks to NHS workers for the next two weeks.

Queen Alexandra Hospital, in Southwick Hill Road, has a branch open seven days a week.

Express machines - found in garages and smaller shops - will also remain open where possible.

Chief executive Jill McDonald said the safety of staff and customers was ‘the number one priority.’

She added: ‘As the need to support social distancing increases, we have taken the decision to temporarily close our stores from this evening, Monday, March 23.

‘To our customers, thank you for your ongoing support – we know these are difficult and unsettling times and through our community work we hope to be able to continue serving you, and your friends and families in some way.

‘I want to take this opportunity to thank our store teams, who during a lot of uncertainty over the past few weeks have continued to provide a warm and welcoming environment, and great service to our loyal customers.’

Staff at closed stores will continue to be paid full wages for the next eight weeks.

Rival coffee chain Starbucks closed all of its stores across the UK on Friday following the government's announcement that all pubs, restaurants and cafes should shut.