Hamilton’s Palace Grounds Starbucks has reopened following a six-month closure, with the UK’s newly crowned 2026 Starbucks Barista Champion now at the helm.
The popular drive-thru coffee destination, which has served the local community for nine years, closed in January after a vehicle fire in the drive-thru lane. Operated by Scottish-based Starbucks franchisee OCO, the site has undergone repair works and a full refresh before welcoming customers back this month.
The reopening marks a significant moment for the business, with Caitlin Murray – recently named the UK’s top Starbucks barista – stepping into the role of store manager. Murray beat more than 16,000 competitors from across the UK to secure the national title.
Having joined Starbucks at just 16 in Inverness, Murray has spent the past 11 years progressing through the company. After discovering a passion for coffee and customer service early on, she relocated to Scotland’s central belt to further her career, gaining experience in drive-thru operations before moving into management roles at OCO’s Airdrie store.
She now takes charge of Hamilton Palace Grounds, OCO’s largest and flagship location, which employs more than 50 people and is regarded as one of the busiest drive-thru coffee sites in the UK.
Speaking about her new role, Murray said: “Taking on Palace Grounds as it reopens is really special. It is such a busy, well-loved store and I know customers have really missed it. It’s a big part of their lives.
“For a lot of people, Starbucks is not just somewhere to pick up a coffee. It becomes part of their day, somewhere they feel welcome, and somewhere they get to know the team.
“I left school at 16 not really knowing what I wanted to do, but I found a job in a Starbucks café in Inverness. I remember coming home after my first week and saying to my mum, ‘this is the best job ever.’ Eleven years on, I still feel the same.
“Winning the Championship still hasn’t quite sunk in. It has been a dream for so long, so to finally get there after 11 years was an incredible feeling.
“I am really excited to bring that passion for coffee into Palace Grounds and to support the team as we welcome customers back.”
The annual Starbucks UK Barista Championship sees employees – known as partners – progress through multiple competitive stages, from in-store heats to the national finals. Participants are assessed on coffee knowledge, flavour profiling, drink quality, latte art and customer service.
This year’s final also featured a ‘store rush’ challenge, designed to test speed and consistency under pressure, with finalists required to prepare multiple drinks in quick succession while maintaining service standards.
As part of her win, Murray will serve as a Starbucks UK coffee ambassador over the next year, attending tastings and events in London and joining fellow global champions for an immersive coffee experience in Amsterdam.
OCO, which operates 23 Starbucks stores across Scotland and employs around 480 people, says the reopening of Palace Grounds has been highly anticipated by customers.
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JJ O’Hara, founder and managing director at OCO, said: “We are sorry for the disruption at Palace Grounds and want to thank our customers for their patience. It’s one of our busiest and best-loved stores – and the biggest drive-thru for coffee in the UK – so we know how much customers have missed it.
“It’s also a special moment for Caitlin and we are incredibly proud. She has shown fantastic commitment from the moment she joined the team, and later moving from Inverness to the Glasgow area to grow her career, learn drive-thru operations and progress into store management.
“To win the UK Starbucks Barista Championship and now take on the leadership of our flagship store is a huge achievement. It is a brilliant moment for Caitlin, for the Palace Grounds team and for OCO as we reopen the store.”
