Wendy's eyes Croydon opening
As first reported by BigHospitality's sister site MCA, the group has submitted plans to open a restaurant on the former Barclays Bank site within Norfolk House at the junction of Wellesley Road and George Street, close to East Croydon station.
Spread over two levels, the restaurant will offer dine-in, takeaway and delivery, and, according to the planning application, create 30 full-time jobs.
Wendy's has already confirmed that it plans to launch restaurants in Reading and Oxford in the coming months, marking the group's first openings in the UK since it pulled out of the market 21 years ago.
The chain previously operated around 10 restaurants across the UK, including high-profile sites on Shaftesbury Avenue - which is now occupied by McDonald’s - and Oxford Circus.
However, it made the decision to leave in 2000, surrendering its leases in order to concentrate on its domestic North American market.
Having announced back in late 2019 that it was planning a return to UK shores, the group's directors recently set out a plan to rollout the chain across the country with an aim of eventually reaching 20 company-owned sites.
A total of five sites are expected to launch before the end of the year.
The planning application notes that Wendy's is 'now beginning a sustained and comprehensive return to the UK'.
Town planning and development consultants Collins & Coward says it is dealing with a number of planning applications on behalf of the chain, across a number of planning authorities as part of the first tranche of sites.
Founded in Ohio in 1969, Wendy’s has more than 6,700 outlets in 30 countries around the world.
