Pret A Manger is facing a backlash after announcing the end of its popular Club Pret subscription, which allowed customers to enjoy five barista-made drinks a day for just £30 a month.
The coffee chain broke the news today in an email to Club Pret subscribers, informing them that it was “time to rethink how it works.” The current deal, which has been running for the last four years, offered subscribers any hot or iced barista-made drink up to five times a day, along with a 20 per cent discount on the rest of the food and drink menu.
Starting in September, a new offer will replace the current subscription: five half-priced drinks a day for £10 a month. This means subscribers who take full advantage of the deal will effectively be paying £205 a month for a £3.90 latte, compared to the £30 they pay now.
Pret’s UK managing director, Clare Clough, explained that the discount on food would also be discontinued, describing it as “something we never really got comfortable with.
The email to subscribers stated, “We know this is a change. But with Club Pret subscription, our coffees, teas, Coolers, and iced drinks will continue to be the best offer on the high street, and at a much more accessible price than the £360 a year people have to pay for the current scheme.
Existing and new Club Pret subscribers will be able to enjoy the new deal for £5 a month until March 31, 2025, when the price will double.
Ms Clough added, “Given that most of our customers are not Club Pret subscribers, our priority now is to focus on better value for everyone.”
The news has infuriated Club Pret members, who were already irked by the company’s crackdown on sharing QR codes with friends. One customer said, “All Londoners are united in grief” following the announcement, while others have already cancelled their subscriptions.
One person shared a screenshot of an email from Pret saying “Sorry to see you go” after they cancelled their Club Pret membership. They tweeted, “Lol at the new @Pret subscription. ‘Commitment to providing better value’ when my savings have gone down from £90 a month to £47, not including food. The math ain’t matching, girl. Cya.”
Another customer warned Pret that it was making a “huge mistake” and urged the company to “rectify it” as they threatened to cancel their subscription.
One user called the subscription changes “laughable,” saying, “What started off good, progressively got more expensive. Subscription going from £15 – £20 – £30. Food prices in shops rose weeks before introducing 20 per cent off so in reality there isn’t any real saving. And now this.”
Another customer warned, “Otherwise I am cancelling my subscription and will never step foot into any of your stores (which will quickly shut down, one by one, from September) ever again.”
The announcement has sparked widespread frustration among loyal Pret customers, many of whom feel the new subscription model offers significantly less value. As Pret moves forward with its new plan, it remains to be seen how many of its loyal Club Pret members will stick around.
