Canadian food chain Tim Hortons to take over old Pizza Hut unit

Plans for the old Pizza Hut unit on Newbury Retail Park are before West Berkshire Council.

Applicants want to turn it into a Tom Hortons restaurant chain, with – says the application – a coffee and bakehouse offer.

It will be on land just off Pinchington Lane and has a drive-thru lane and outside seating planned.

The application is for a change of use, to allow for takeaways, but includes plans to upgrade the current building.

Tim Hortons is a relatively new entrant to the UK market and can best be described as a restaurant chain with a coffee and bakehouse offer.

The brand was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

It has since grown with more than 4,500 stores from coast to coast. Known affectionately as ‘Timmy’s’, it is a place famous for its fresh coffee and baked goods.

Tim Hortons opened its first store in the UK in 2017 and now has 56 units here, with more opening soon.

Its current focus is to expand its drive-thru model across the UK, including at the proposal site.

The Tim Hortons offer is different from that provided by the likes of McDonald's, KFC and Burger King and is comparable to that provided by coffee shop operators such as Costa or Starbucks.

The hot food offer includes paninis and ‘melts’, as well as hot sandwiches and wraps, again similar to other coffee shop operators.

The plans are up before Newbury Town Council for its views, ahead of planning approval by West Berkshire Council.