A new diner café is on its way to opening its first location in Berkshire soon.
The Canadian restaurant chain Tim Hortons was launched by the famous hockey player in 1964 and has become known for its brilliant breakfasts, sweet treats and burgers ever since.
Tim Hortons already has a sizeable presence in the UK, with a total of 78 locations.
And the chain is on its way towards opening a 79th diner and drive-thru at Newbury Retail Park.
A property company won permission to transform the former Pizza Hut building at the retail park in Pinchington Lane into a Tim Hortons diner and drive-thru in January last year.
The transformation project involves a significant upwards extension, modifications and new branding to be fitted to the exterior of the current building.
Shortly after approval was granted, the applicant F and C Commercial Property Holdings Ltd made changes to the layout of the drive-thru.
The applicant changed the order point island and made the drive-thru layout wider.
These changes were approved by West Berkshire Council’s planning department on May 23 last year.
Work is taking place on the site, evidenced in images provided by councillor Adrian Abbs (Independent, Newbury Wash Common), who regularly passes the site.
But there is still much to be done to prepare the building for Tim Hortons to occupy it, as seen in the photos by cllr Abbs.
Work is required both on the exterior of the building and the car park layout, which will have 43 spaces and two disabled spaces for guests.
Construction workers are guessing that Tim Hortons could be open by Easter, according to a conversation cllr Abbs had with them.
He also claimed that there are traffic planning issues that ‘need sorting’ that has resulted in a delay to the works.
Cllr Abbs alluded to potential changes to the multiple roundabouts to facilitate a Bloor Homes development of 1,000 homes that was approved on outline by the government planning inspectorate in May 2022.
The site for the development is located at Sandleford Park east of the A339, the road that runs between Basingstoke, Newbury and the A34.
READ MORE: Local Plan process for over 3000 homes in West Berkshire must go ahead
Tim Hortons will be located within the retail park which is in southern Newbury and features a number of big clothing and food stores.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service asked Tim Hortons for a statement on the project earlier this month but no response has been received so far.
You can view the approved changes to the drive thru layout by typing application reference 23/00988/NONMAT into the council’s planning portal.
Cllr Abbs is running as an Independent parliamentary candidate for the new Reading West and Mid Berkshire MP seat.
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