Furious Pret customers are pledging to cancel their free coffee subscriptions after the “ridiculous” change

If you’re a Club Pret member, you might want to sit down before reading this, because we’ve got some rather disturbing news for you.

A high street coffee chain will be changing its subscriptions in a few months and you can say goodbye to those free drinks and cheap food.

Pret is scrapping the £30 monthly fee which currently allows people up to five hot or iced drinks a day and 20% off food. Instead, the new membership scheme will cost £10 a month and in exchange for the cost, subscribers will only get 50% off five drinks each day.

The change is due to come into force from September 2024 and for the first few months existing customers and new members will pay £5 a month for membership. This will increase to a fee of £10 from 31 March 2025.

But there’s a small sliver of light amid the darkness – from July 18 the chain is slashing the price of several popular items, including its signature filter Arabica coffee, which will be available for 99p instead of £1.80.

And the classic All Butter croissant is also discounted to £1.99 instead of the usual £2.30 price tag.

Club Pret launched in 2020 and the subscription was described as “an offer that seemed almost too good to be true” by Pret UK and Ireland CEO Clare Clough.

In a message to customers explaining the reason for the change, she said: “It is almost four years since we launched our coffee subscription at the height of the pandemic and I am proud of the role Club Pret has played for us and our customers. since.

“Four years and more than a quarter of a billion coffees later, we decided it was time to rethink how it works.

“The current subscription benefits will therefore end in September and be replaced by a new and simpler offer.

“Club Pret subscribers get 50% off up to five barista-made drinks a day for a reduced monthly fee of £10 – and just £5 for existing and new subscribers until 31 March 2025. It also means we’re removing the 20% discount on food and with double pricing on our food products – something we’ve never had much fun with.

“We know it’s a change. But with a Club Pret subscription, our coffees, teas, coolers and iced drinks will continue to be the best deal on the high street and at a much more affordable price than the £360 a year people have to pay for the current system.

“As the majority of our customers are not Club Pret subscribers, our priority is now to focus on better value for everyone.

“By making these changes, we underline our commitment to providing all our Pret customers with better value, as well as the Pret quality and service you know and expect.

“I am extremely grateful for the continued loyalty of all our customers and hope to see you in our stores soon.”

But the announcement did little to reassure Pret customers, with many vowing to cancel their memberships on social media.

@Phillf11101 turned to X and said: ‘Hi @Pret. That’s the tweet.” While @matthewseymour called the change “ridiculous”.

He wrote: ‘Changing to £10 a month and no discount on food when your prices are just as ridiculous and only 50% off your hot drinks!! Speak up, I’ll cancel it as I think many others will!!! Shame on you.’

@BeatriceSEM joked: ‘Pretty heartbreaking across West London this morning…’

“It’s a very sad day for coffee lovers,” wrote @amyallison_xo as @RicRodriguez_UK called it a “terrible, terrible decision”.

Some claimed the new membership offer would offer “terrible value” for money. Journalist Thomas Mason wrote: “It’s not great value, it’s a price increase! With your current subscription you can get up to 150 coffees per month for £30. At £5 and 50% off you’d be lucky to get 12 coffees a month for the same £30.”

Others said they would instead cancel and sign up to LEON’s Roast Rewards, which costs £25 a month and includes barista-made drinks and 20% off breakfast and an all-day menu.

Customers can redeem one coffee per hour, but the meal discount can be used as often as desired. Rewards are available via app or web ordering, but not self-service kiosks.

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