BOURNEMOUTH’S second Starbucks store will open in July, creating up to 20 new jobs in the town.

The coffee shop giant has planning permission to convert two empty units on Richmond Hill into a new cafe with an outdoor seating area.

Building work on converting the former Bournemouth Jeans store and Barroccoa coffee shop is due to start imminently.

A Starbucks spokesman said: “We can confirm that a new Starbucks store will open on Richmond Hill in Bournemouth in July, in partnership with Starbucks franchisee 23.5 Degrees.

“This store will create around 15 to 20 jobs for the local area and is the tenth store to be opened by 23.5 Degrees in the south west region. We are proud of our partnership with 23.5 Degrees, bringing great coffee and exciting employment opportunities to communities like Bournemouth.”

Central ward councillor David Smith said: “Anything that draws customers up Richmond Hill to support the businesses there will be useful. It will bring a nice ambience to the town centre and it’s nice to see empty shops being brought back to life.”

The Richmond Hill premises will be the second Starbucks in Bournemouth Town Centre. There is also one at the Triangle and one just outside the town centre in Westbourne.

This Westbourne branch was the scene of a protest in 2012, when demonstrators gathered outside to object at the Starbucks’ tax avoidance practices.

Following the controversy surrounding their tax arrangement, Starbucks suffered a drop in UK sales and it opted to axe loss-making coffee shops.