The UK’s love for matcha is bubbling over, with the market now valued at a whopping £45.3 million.
While you can find a good cup almost anywhere, some cities are brewing their way to the top. To help determine where the top hotspots are, new data from catering suppliers Alliance Online has revealed the matcha capitals in the UK and Ireland.
Using Google Reviews data, the study explores the scale of matcha popularity in each city by considering each cafe’s reviews and ratings. To account for differences in city size, the total number of cafés and reviews were scaled relative to the city population, created a weighted overall score.
Key Findings:
Bristol is the UK and Ireland’s top matcha hotspot, scoring 95.87.
Glasgow has the highest proportion of 5-star reviews, with 18.37% of customers awarding full marks.
Kingston upon Hull boasts the highest average rating at 4.88.
Dublin has the largest matcha scene by volume, with 114 cafés—the most of any city—and a substantial review base.
The UK and Ireland’s top matcha hotspots:
Rank | City | Total Matcha Cafes | Average Rating | Reviews with 5* rating | Matcha Score |
1 | Bristol | 97 | 4.63 | 8.25% | 95.87 |
2 | Nottingham | 55 | 4.51 | 7.27% | 80.17 |
3 | Manchester | 80 | 4.57 | 6.25% | 79.55 |
4 | Southampton | 48 | 4.6 | 8.33% | 78.77 |
5 | Edinburgh | 65 | 4.69 | 9.23% | 78.27 |
6 | Leeds | 97 | 4.59 | 5.15% | 61.75 |
7 | Liverpool | 43 | 4.66 | 9.30% | 48.62 |
8 | Glasgow | 49 | 4.74 | 18.37% | 48.54 |
9 | Newcastle Upon Tyne | 28 | 4.59 | 10.71% | 41.49 |
10 | Brighton and Hove | 45 | 4.62 | 0.00% | 35.20 |
11 | Cardiff | 38 | 4.52 | 2.63% | 29.51 |
12 | Sheffield | 44 | 4.67 | 4.55% | 28.77 |
13 | Belfast | 24 | 4.56 | 12.50% | 25.17 |
14 | Derby | 15 | 4.64 | 13.33% | 24.65 |
15 | Birmingham | 84 | 4.46 | 1.19% | 20.19 |
16 | Dublin | 114 | 4.56 | 0.88% | 19.51 |
17 | Coventry | 18 | 4.63 | 5.56% | 18.42 |
18 | Bradford | 19 | 4.59 | 5.26% | 16.62 |
19 | Plymouth | 10 | 4.73 | 20.00% | 15.66 |
20 | Kingston upon Hull | 7 | 4.88 | 42.86% | 14.76 |
21 | Leicester | 16 | 4.5 | 0.00% | 7.48 |
22 | London | 78 | 4.59 | 15.38% | 3.50 |
All variables were scaled by population and weighted to create a final, fair score for each city.
Source: Alliance Online
Top 3 ranking
Bristol takes the crown as the UK and Ireland’s top hotspot for matcha, with a matcha score of 95.87/100. The city pairs its large offering of 97 cafés with strong customer satisfaction, making it the clear leader for matcha lovers. The city also holds the top spot in the South West, surpassing Plymouth, which ranked 19th. Although Plymouth has a smaller sample of just 10 cafés, it boasts a high number of 5-star reviews, with 1 in 5 receiving top marks
Nottingham comes in second place, scoring 80.17/100. With 55 cafés and almost 1 in 10 (7%) customers awarding 5-star reviews, the city demonstrates a thriving matcha community. Nottingham also leads the East Midlands region, outpacing Derby and Leicester, which rank 14th and 21st, respectively.
Manchester ranks third, with an overall score of 79.55/100. Offering 80 cafés with an average rating of 4.57, the city combines variety with solid customer satisfaction. Manchester is the North West region’s matcha leader, ahead of Liverpool, which boasts 43 cafés and a high share of 5-star reviews.
Further regional rankings:
Scotland
Edinburgh is Scotland’s top matcha city, ranking 5th overall with a score of 78.27. This places it three positions higher than Glasgow, which scored 48.54 and ranked 8th. The difference highlights a contrast between market size and customer satisfaction. Edinburgh’s higher score is driven by its larger and more established matcha market, with 16 more cafés than Glasgow. Glasgow, however, excels in customer experience, boasting an impressive 18.37% of reviews with 5 stars, nearly double Edinburgh’s percentage.
Northern Ireland
Belfast represents the main matcha hub in Northern Ireland, ranking 13th with 24 cafés earning high praise and an overall score of 25.17/100. The city’s matcha scene, while smaller than major UK cities, is gaining momentum. With more than 1 in 10 reviews getting a 5-star rating (12.50%), Belfast’s matcha spots are clearly earning “high praise” for their quality and customer experience.
Wales
Cardiff leads in Wales, offering 38 cafés, showcasing a small but strong matcha scene with an overall score of 29.51/100. Many of the Welsh capital’s top-rated spots boast near-perfect average ratings of 4.8 and 4.9.
Republic of Ireland
Dublin stands out as a vibrant matcha city with over 100 cafés, the most of any city in the study. However, despite this impressive volume, its overall score is just 19.51/100. Despite this, Dublin ranks 16th overall, placing it 6 positions higher than the UK’s capital, London
Commenting on the findings, Rachael Kiss at Alliance Online said: “The rise of matcha as a daily ritual for so many people across the UK and Ireland presents a huge opportunity for café owners. As this trend grows, so does the demand for sustainable practices. By investing in biodegradable disposable cups, businesses can easily meet this demand, reducing waste and meeting customer expectations for eco-friendly practices.”
