Every day, 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed, with many people relying on their daily caffeine fix as part of their commute. When it comes to choosing where to grab that coffee, most stick to a familiar spot. In fact, preferences are clear; a recent survey by Capital on Tap found that 41% of Brits favour independent cafés, compared with 23% who opt for national chains.
To explore how this preference plays out across the UK, the team at Capital on Tap analysed coffee shop distribution in the country’s 30 largest cities. The study compared the number of independent coffee shops with major chains, including Costa, Starbucks, Pret A Manger, and Caffè Nero, mapping which model dominates in each city relative to population size.
You can view the full study here:
https://www.capitalontap.com/en/blog/posts/uk-coffee-shop-report-2026
The cities with the strongest independent coffee scene in the UK
| Rank | City | Number of independent coffee shops per 100,000 residents | % of coffee shops that are independent |
| 1 | Brighton | 57.7 | 73.9% |
| 2 | Norwich | 35.8 | 73.3% |
| 3 | Swansea | 28.7 | 73.2% |
| 4 | Exeter | 35.2 | 72.3% |
| 5 | Sheffield | 28.7 | 72.2% |
| 6 | Edinburgh | 56.6 | 71.8% |
| 7 | Glasgow | 41.2 | 69.7% |
| 8 | Bradford | 20.1 | 68.6% |
| 9 | Portsmouth | 27.3 | 66.3% |
| 10 | Aberdeen | 24.6 | 66.2% |
Brighton leads as the UK city with the strongest independent coffee shop scene. With 57.7 per 100,000 people, nearly three-quarters of all coffee shops in the city (73.9%) are independently owned, forming a dense network of small, owner-operated venues that clearly outnumber national chains. This strength is also reflected in consumer behaviour, with 44% of people in Brighton & Hove saying they prefer independent coffee shops compared with under 20% who favour chains.
Norwich follows closely behind, with 35.8 independent coffee shops per 100,000 people and 73.3% of the city’s cafés unaffiliated with major chains. Local favourites include The Yard Coffee, known for its excellent coffee and delicious toasties, as well as Strangers Coffee Company, which has earned hundreds of five-star online reviews.
Swansea rounds out the top three at 28.7 per 100,000 people, with 73.2% of coffee shops independently run. Like Brighton and Norwich, the coffee shop landscape is heavily weighted towards independents, with local operators making up the vast majority of coffee outlets across the city.
Additional findings from the wider study:
- On the other hand, Milton Keynes stands out as the UK’s most chain-dominated coffee city, with chains accounting for over half (52.5%) of all coffee shops (15.21 chain coffee shops per 100,000 residents).
- Interestingly, even in cities dominated by chains, many consumers prefer independents; for example, in Cambridge, the UK’s third most chain-heavy city, just 19% of residents favour major chains.
- Hugh Acland, Chief Commercial Officer at Capital on Tap, highlights what the findings mean for SMEs, stressing that understanding local market dynamics, delivering strong perceived value, and building consistency and customer loyalty are key to competing and growing successfully in the independent coffee sector.
Photo by Du Tử Mộng: https://www.pexels.com/photo/coffee-latte-with-heart-art-2226091/
