FOLLOWING the sudden closure of Tynedale's only Little Chef restaurant at Bardon Mill, after more than 30 years, we examine the rise and fall of the brand in the UK.
FACTFILE
1958: The first 11-seater Little Chef, inspired by classic American diners, opened in Reading.
1976: The chain rapidly expanded to 174 restaurants from Plymouth to Aberdeen. The First Little Chef lodge for overnight stays opened.
1981: Little Chef Bardon Mill opened.
1994: Little Chef was taken over by the Forte Group and grew to 350 sites, and moved into Spanish market through a deal with oil giant Repsol.
2000: The chain reached its peak with 439 sites. After a hostile takeover it fell under the ownership of Granada.
2009: With numbers of outlets steadily declining, celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal revamped its menu, but the lift was short-lived. By 2012 there were just 119 restaurants left.
2017: Euro Garages bought the brand and just over 50 remaining restaurants from Kuwaiti firm, Kout Food Group. With partnerships with brands such as Starbucks, Subway, Greggs and Burger King, Euro Garages has begun rebranding the portfolio, prompting fears that the British name, best known for treats like the "Olympic Breakfast" and "Jubilee Pancakes" is set to disappear from roadsides.
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