Hull’s city centre might soon welcome a new Wendy’s restaurant, pending the approval of a recent planning submission.
The proposed site for the iconic American eatery is a vacant retail space in King Albert Chambers on Jameson Street. The submission, made by franchise operator Square Burgers Ltd, is a continuation of Wendy’s broader UK expansion strategy, reintroducing the brand to the British market after a hiatus since 2000.
This development comes on the heels of the debut of the first Wendy’s in Hull and East Yorkshire, located at Kingswood Retail Park, which previously housed Papa’s Fish & Chips.
The restaurant’s operational hours are slated to be from 7 am to 11 pm daily, anticipating the busiest periods between noon to 2 pm and 5 pm to 7:30 pm. It’s projected to accommodate 59 patrons and provide employment for approximately 40 individuals, split evenly between full and part-time positions.
The launch of the Kingswood Wendy’s saw significant anticipation, with queues forming for its opening this past December. Wendy’s, a household name in the US with over 7,000 global outlets, was established in Columbus, Ohio, in 1969 by Dave Thomas, renowned for its square hamburgers.
The Kingswood opening witnessed enthusiastic patrons, some of whom skipped work or school to be among the first customers, enjoying giveaways such as free t-shirts and meals.
Following its UK relaunch in 2021, Wendy’s announced an expansion drive in 2022, aiming to establish a presence in the Midlands and northern England, adding to its initial locations in London and the south. Hull now joins cities like Manchester, Birmingham, and Sheffield in hosting Wendy’s restaurants, with the chain boasting 30 UK outlets. The Sheffield restaurant, like the proposed Hull city centre site, is operated by Square Burgers Ltd, a long-standing franchise partner of Wendy’s. Last year, the company’s President and CEO, Todd Penegor, expressed ambitions to expand the UK portfolio to 45 locations by the end of 2023.
The proposal for the Jameson Street Wendy’s aims not only to revitalise the King Albert Chambers unit but also to inject new life into the area, which already hosts popular fast-food chains such as McDonald’s and KFC.
