CUPP Bubble Tea Leeds: Meet the owner of the bubble tea franchise drawing in huge queues to Trinity Leeds

By Abbey Maclure
Published 5th Dec 2021, 11:45 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now
CUPP Bubble Tea has earned something of a cult following, with queues filling Trinity Leeds when it opened its newest store last month.

Offering a variety of flavours of 'the drink that you can chew', the business was founded by Lee Peacock after he returned from a three-year stint teaching English in Taiwan.

As he celebrates the launch of his ninth store, a kiosk on the upper floor of the Leeds shopping centre, Lee looks back at how the CUPP journey began almost a decade ago.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Bubble tea is the national drink of Taiwan," Lee, 37, told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

CUPP founder Lee Peacock, centre, pictured with business development manager Andy Hulbert and franchise assistant Laura HulbertCUPP founder Lee Peacock, centre, pictured with business development manager Andy Hulbert and franchise assistant Laura Hulbert
CUPP founder Lee Peacock, centre, pictured with business development manager Andy Hulbert and franchise assistant Laura Hulbert

“There’s bubble tea on every street corner and you can’t escape it.

“I wasn’t that keen on it at first, I thought it was a bit odd. But then I found myself craving bubble tea when I was on my scooter on the way to work.

"It crept in and that was it - I was sold."

Read More
How Leeds woman’s Covid diagnosis inspired booming glamping business helping fam...
Bubble tea traditionally consists of tea, milk and chewy tapioca pearls that you slurp through an oversized straw (Photo: Steve Riding)Bubble tea traditionally consists of tea, milk and chewy tapioca pearls that you slurp through an oversized straw (Photo: Steve Riding)