The North West's independent coffee capital revealed
What do you think is the best independent coffee shop in Pendle?
Pendle has been named the independent coffee capital of the North West, with 92.1% of its coffee shops run by independents rather than chains.
Data from the Food Standards Agency and Food Standards Scotland food hygiene-rating databases found by DarkHorse revealed that Pendle ranks 15th nationally amongst places with the highest number of independent coffee shops, becoming the highest-placed area in the North West.
Wigan claimed second place with 87%, where 100 of its 115 coffee shops independently run. Salford completes the podium on 86.9%, with 86 of its 99 coffee shops are independent.
South Ribble (86.7%) and West Lancashire (86%) round out the regional top five.
Across the North West as a whole, 76.2% of coffee shops are independent, close to the 77% UK average. The rest of the top ten is closed out with, Burnley on 85.7% in sixth place, Wyre on 85.0% in seventh, Stockport with 84.5% in eighth place, Wirral on 83.8% in ninth place and Bolton closes out the top ten with 83.3% of their coffee shops independently owned.
On the opposite end of the scale, chains hold their largest regional share in Cheshire East (35.9% of coffee shops), Preston (35.4%) and Cheshire West and Chester (34.8%).
In total, the UK is home to 32,957 coffee shops, 25,415 of which are independently owned, according to research from DarkHorse.
Commenting on the data, Libby Mayfield, Head of Marketing at Dark Horse, said:
"Our research found that the UK is home to 32,957 coffee shops, 25,415 of which are independently owned.
"While busy city commuters might rely on the quick predictability of a high street chain, 359 local authorities (out of a total 361) have coffee scenes that are comprised of at least 50% independently run businesses.
"There's something incredibly comforting about these findings; it feels like a real celebration of the UK's love of a local café. The numbers prove we're choosing cosy corners, familiar faces and a flat white from a barista who agrees that syrups are for wimps.
"It really goes to show that while convenience has its place, nothing quite beats the warmth of a passionately run local spot."