Gong cha to open first Kent branch with new store in New Road, Gravesend town centre, next to Costa

A global bubble tea chain is opening its first Kent branch.

Gong cha will be launching its new store in Gravesend town centre in May as part of its UK expansion plans.

The unit, in New Road, is currently occupied by Costa but is undergoing work to split it into two to accommodate both shops.

The exact opening date has yet to be announced but it will be the third bubble tea store in the town centre.

Global CEO of Gong cha, Paul Reynish, said: “At Gong cha we take tea seriously.

“This is not your everyday tea in a tea bag – this is whole-leaf tea that has been grown exclusively for us to create delicious, high-quality bubble tea that is totally customised to an individual’s preference.

“We cannot wait to introduce consumers in Gravesend to Gong cha and show them exactly how tea is meant to be.”

Founded in Taiwan in 2006, Gong cha is known for its high-quality, freshly brewed and Instagrammable drinks made with premium ingredients, including brown sugar tapioca pearls and fruit jellies.

Its signature brown sugar milk tea is one of its most popular beverages, however, the chain says there are more than 600 product combinations to choose from to create fully customisable drinks.

Gong cha, which is now based in London, first expanded overseas in 2009 and now operates more than 2,100 stores across 28 markets.

In March, the drinks giant unveiled plans to open at least 225 new stores across the UK and create 2,000 jobs with the first phase of new locations being Gravesend, Sidcup, Romford and Hornchurch.

It follows a franchise agreement with the newly-created company Jinziex which is led by industry experts including Goldex, one of the largest franchisees behind Costa, and the founder of Kaspa’s Desserts.

It already has stores in London, Manchester, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich and Nottingham.