Coffee#1, the SA Brain-owned coffee chain, has lined up six new openings for the first six months of the year, as it looks to strengthen its presence along the south coast, M&C Report has learnt.

The 38-strong chain has lined up its first opening in Berkshire, in Newbury for March.

It will follow this with openings in Hampshire in Gosport, Eastleigh and Southsea.

It is also lining up two opening in Devon in Newton Abbot and Paignton.

Late last year, Brains retail director Philip Lay has told M&C Report that the chain expects to open c10 this year in total

The next opening will be Pershore, Worcestershire, at the start of February.

Lay said the 38-strong chain would continue to expand its geographical reach. Last year, it opened its most easterly unit yet in Shirley, Southampton.