THE café in Sainsbury’s Kempshott is one of 200 set to close this spring.

The supermarket giant has announced that as many as 2,000 workers could lose their jobs as 200 instore cafes are set to close, including the one in Wallop Drive, Basingstoke.

Read more: BrewDog refitting Festival Place unit ahead of opening in coming weeks

It comes as part of wider cutbacks by the retailer to transform its dining, takeaway, and home deliveries.

A list of 67 cafes which Sainsbury’s said will remain open but under review has been published.

The Basingstoke store is not included on this list.

Sainsbury’s is planning to open 30 new ‘restaurant hubs’ in its stores in partnership with Boparan Restaurant Group, which owns eateries such as Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Carluccios, Ed’s Diner, and Slim Chickens.

It is not known if the Basingstoke branch will be chosen to include a restaurant hub.

Sainsbury’s has also announced plans to open 30 Starbucks coffee shops in stores over the next year, bringing its total number of Starbucks to 60.

Supermarket bosses spoke to café staff on Tuesday to let them know about the plans to shut 200 cafes this spring.

It said staff affected will be “prioritised for vacant roles in Sainsbury’s stores and will be encouraged to explore alternative roles within the wider business”.

The supermarket is also planning to close hot food counters in 34 stores and “simplify” the way it runs its bakeries in 54 stores.

Simon Roberts, Sainsbury’s chief executive officer, said: “Through our trials with Boparan Restaurant Group and Starbucks we have learnt that we can offer customers a much better eat-in and takeaway experience working with partners.

He added: “As we go through this period of transition, we have taken the difficult decision to close 200 of our cafes next month. We have spoken to all colleagues affected by these changes today [March 1] and are absolutely committed to supporting them in any way we can during this uncertain time.

"Of course, we understand this is very unsettling for our colleagues, but we must keep adapting our business to make sure we are offering customers the best possible food and drink at affordable prices.”

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story. We really appreciate your support.

Please help us to continue bringing you all the trusted news from your area by sharing this story or by following our Facebook page.