- Morrison’s is to open an in-store bar at its supermarket in Guiseley, Leeds
- It’s the first supermarket in the country to serve customers booze as they shop
- The bar, named Barista, will serve a selection of local ales, ciders, lager and wine
- It is not known if Morrison’s are planning to launch the initiative nationwide
A Morrison’s in West Yorkshire is planning to destress its customers by becoming the first in Britain to have an in-store bar.
The supermarket in Guiseley has opened up a bar called Barista, which will allow its shoppers to sip on a cold one while getting their shopping done.
Barista will boast a menu of refreshing beverages, from a Saltaire Blonde ale and Frizzante Italian wine to ciders and lagers.
It is not known whether the shop will extend its plan to stores nationwide.
The new bar Barista at Morrisons in Guiseley, pictured, will sell local ales and wine to shoppers. It is the only supermarket in the UK to have a bar
A Morrison’s spokesperson told the Yorkshire Post: ‘Saltaire Blonde is a local brewery that’s really popular with customers. We’re looking forward to hearing what customers think of our new cask pump.’
A number of Morrison customers took to social media to celebrate – and critique – the news.
Mark Cooke wrote on Facebook: ‘Guiseley Morrison’s is serving pints, they know their customer base.’
On Twitter, Martin King said: ‘Guiseley Morrisons here I come, what a great idea.’
It is not known if and when Morrisons will extend its in-store bar to its branches nationwide. It’s iniative has sparked both celebration and criticism
Also on Twitter, Daniel Shutt said: ‘As if drink culture isn’t bad enough in Leeds already, now we have to have a bar inside Morrison’s!’
Last year Morrison’s announced its first increase in sales in four years, a growth largely attributed to bulk alcohol sales.
The supermarket’s chief executive, David Potts, told the Guardian in an interview in January that booze had been the ‘standout department’ contributing to a 0.2 per cent increase in Morrison’s sales.