ON AIR NOW:

From McDonald’s and KFC to Greggs and Subway – when fast-food giants first arrived in the Grimsby area

To many, a time before American fast-food chains is now as alien as a time before the internet is to the kids of today.

Even those in their 30s and early 40s might struggle to remember the days before Big Macs and Happy Meals. There were other chains such as Wimpy – a once-popular brand that will mean little to today’s kids – but nothing quite on the scale of the Golden Arches.

It’s been 40 years since McDonald’s arrived in our area and, for better or worse depending on your views, it changed the takeaway landscape forever, being arguably the biggest influencer in the relentless rise of Americanised fast-food culture.

READ MORE:

The mega-chain’s debut was followed by an array of other imports over the years, and wasn’t the first as KFC came before it, with some only arriving more recently including Subway around 18 years ago and Taco Bell in 2016. Meanwhile, one or two British takeaway giants also became increasingly familiar on our high streets. Here we look back at when some of our favourites first rolled in to North East Lincolnshire …

McDonald’s

It took a whole ten years after the largest of America’s fast food giants arrived on British shores before Ronald and the gang came to Grimsby.

The chain’s first restaurant opened in Woolwich, London, in November 1974, but it wasn’t until December 3, 1984 that Grimbarians finally got to ask for a Big Mac meal at the firm’s 152nd outlet in the UK. It now operates more than 1,400 stores in the country.

The town’s first McDonald’s, in the former Savoy Theatre, came at a time when American-style fast food was considered to be revolutionary, with McDonald’s managers aiming to serve customers within three minutes.

A spokesperson said: “This was Grimsby’s first McDonald’s. The restaurant opened two years after the breakfast menu launched, which was in 1982.

“The Happy Meal and McChicken Sandwich would not have been available on the menu when the restaurant opened. They launched in 1986 and 1989 respectively.”



Grimsby Telegraph's news coverage of McDonald's opening in Grimsby in 1984
Grimsby Telegraph’s news coverage of McDonald’s opening in Grimsby in 1984

The Grimsby Telegraph’s news coverage on McDonald’s opening in Grimsby in 1984 said: “Shed a tear for fish, chips and tea … American hamburgers arrived in Grimsby today.

“McDonald’s, the worldwide chain, opened its 152nd British outlet in Grimsby’s Top Town creating 50 jobs and the first of thousands of hamburgers in the process.

“The doors of the former Focus Cinema in Victoria Street opened 20 minutes late at 10.20am. By 10.22 the first quarter-pounder was being eaten by a customer. By 10.25 he was gone.

“He did not want to be named – because he should have been in a lecture at Grimsby College of Technology. Fast food, American-style had arrived.

“‘Our specifications are for the customer to wait no more than two minutes in line, and one minute being served before he has his food,’ said the manager.”



McDonald’s on Victoria Street South

As we know, this McDonald’s was followed by more restaurants over the years. Next was the Grimsby Road outlet, near Blundell Park, which was the first in the area to be built using the company’s famous modular design. It was constructed on the site of the former Ritz cinema, which had opened as “the most lavish and luxurious cinema ever to be built” on July 31, 1937 before eventually being demolished in 1993 to make way for McDonald’s.

For years, it was just those two restaurants but three more came in fairly quick succession, beginning with the Birchin Way outlet on the Bass Brewery storage yard site in Grimsby, opening in January 2000.

It wasn’t long before Cleethorpes got its second McDonald’s, and North East Lincolnshire’s fourth, with the Meridian Point restaurant welcoming its first customers in June 2001. This was the chain’s 1,179th UK outlet.



Celebrating the opening of the latest McDonald's to arrive in the area at Morrisons, Laceby, in 2002, are manager Sue Gilmore, staff member Ashley Robinson, second assistant manager Clive Burrell, staff member Michelle Pearson and McDonalds marketing manager Helen Simmons
Celebrating the opening of the latest McDonald’s to arrive in the area at Morrisons, Laceby, in 2002, are manager Sue Gilmore, staff member Ashley Robinson, second assistant manager Clive Burrell, staff member Michelle Pearson and McDonalds marketing manager Helen Simmons

Less than a year later, the area’s newest restaurant was constructed next to the Morrisons supermarket, near Laceby. Opening in February 2002, a little bit of McFatigue was starting to kick in with a few local people but, on the whole, it was welcomed.

One shopper said: “To be fair, there are a lot of them already in the area, and it is only a 10-minute drive from each one. But on the whole it is a good idea, I like McDonald’s food.”

Burger King

The ‘Home Of The Whopper’ first arrived in Britain in 1977 but Grimbarians hankering for the Miami-based chain’s flame-grilled taste would have to wait more than 20 years before they could sample McDonald’s arch rival on their doorstep.

The company’s first foray into North East Lincolnshire came in December 1998 when it opened a counter at the Little Chef site on the A180 approach to Grimsby town centre.



Special customer Stuart McLauchlan cuts the ribbon to open the Burger King on the A180 in Grimsby watched by the manager Sue Metcalf, right, and assistant manager Zoe Simpson
Special customer Stuart McLauchlan cuts the ribbon to open the Burger King on the A180 in Grimsby watched by the manager Sue Metcalf, right, and assistant manager Zoe Simpson

There was a time when Burger Kings were often seen next to Little Chefs as the latter’s owner, Granada, attempted to stem the decline of the oft-seen roadside diner by giving customers a fast-food option as McDonald’s and KFC spread rapidly.

The Little Chef site ended up closing down in the mid-2000s but the building remained dormant.



The Burger King site at Lockhill in Grimsby before construction began on the restaurant and a separate building featuring a Blockbuster Video store. Both eventually opened in November 2000
The Burger King site at Lockhill in Grimsby before construction began on the restaurant and a separate building featuring a Blockbuster Video store. Both eventually opened in November 2000

The Burger King drive-thru restaurant we all know now at Lockhill roundabout was first announced in 1999. At the time, the site was occupied by a former nautical school where thousands of seafarers were trained.

Demolition began in March 2000 with the Burger King welcoming its first customers on Monday, November 20, 2000.

Another Burger King outlet opened at Thorpe Park (Haven Holiday Park Cleethorpes) in 2011.

Subway

It’s sometimes hard to believe the ubiquitous American sandwich company’s stores were something of a rarity on British high streets less than 20 years ago, generally only found in big cities after its first outlet opened in Brighton in 1996.

The chain, famed for its customisable subs, now has more than 2,000 locations in the UK, and can be found everywhere from shopping centres to inside petrol stations and convenience stores.



The area's first Subway opened on Victoria Street, Grimsby, in 2006. Staff pictured, from left, are Gill Douglas, Dan Drewery, Kelly Pearce, Kyle Smart and owners Kirran Nijjar and Aman Nijjar
The area’s first Subway opened on Victoria Street, Grimsby, in 2006. Staff pictured, from left, are Gill Douglas, Dan Drewery, Kelly Pearce, Kyle Smart and owners Kirran Nijjar and Aman Nijjar

There are now eight locations in North East Lincolnshire, but the first opened its doors just over 18 years ago in Victoria Street, Grimsby, in February 2006.

Subway pitched itself as a healthier alternative to other fast-food retailers, and the Grimsby Telegraph reported its arrival as such, hailing the “fresh, wholesome ingredients”.

The chain’s Grimsby debut came thanks to joint proprietors Aman and Kirran Nijjar who, at the time, had managed family-owned Star Supermarket convenience stores in Holton le Clay and New Waltham for more than a decade.

Other Subways in the area include Kennedy Way, Immingham, and Meridian Point, Cleethorpes.

Greggs

It’s synonymous with sausage rolls and a go-to place for sandwiches and pasties these days but the Telegraph had to explain what Greggs was all about when it first appeared on the streets of Grimsby back in September 2002.

The debut stores, in Victoria Street and Freshney Place, opened within days of each other and it was predicted, quite accurately, that they would prove “a hit with shoppers and town centre workers during lunch breaks”.



The new Greggs store opened on Victoria Street West, Grimsby, in 2002. Offering samples of the food to local people are, from left, Linda Johnson, manager, Julie Hillstaff, Steve Harper, Stacey Bridgewater, Elizabeth Fenwick and Cheryl Turner
The new Greggs store opened on Victoria Street West, Grimsby, in 2002. Offering samples of the food to local people are, from left, Linda Johnson, manager, Julie Hillstaff, Steve Harper, Stacey Bridgewater, Elizabeth Fenwick and Cheryl Turner

Meanwhile, in a stunning display of prescience, “bosses believe sausage rolls and pasties will be among the top sellers”.

After the Victoria Street store’s grand opening, Linda Johnson, store manager, said: “We have had some really good feedback from our customers.

“They have commented on the cleanliness and colourful interior, and everyone says it smells fantastic.

“While we were getting the shop ready a lot of people asked us when we were opening.”

Meanwhile, Peter Rossi, managing director of Greggs, said: “We believe Grimsby is a key growth opportunity for Greggs and hope that our shops are as popular in Grimsby as they are elsewhere in Lincolnshire.

“We pride ourselves on providing a wide variety of great tasting sandwiches, savouries and cakes at great value, and we are confident this will be appreciated by the people of Grimsby.”

How right he was. The Tyneside bakery chain now operates around 2,000 stores around the UK, including four in North East Lincolnshire.

Domino’s Pizza

News that the world’s largest pizza chain was coming to Grimsby was announced in September 2004 when the hunt began for an entrepreneur to take on its first outlet in the town.

It was reported that the US-owned giant was about to take a 1,000 sq ft unit at the Palace Buffet site near Corporation Bridge, which was undergoing a £500,000 refurbishment.



The Domino's Pizza store, in Corporation Road, Grimsby, pictured shortly after it opened
The Domino’s Pizza store, in Corporation Road, Grimsby, pictured shortly after it opened

The move was part of a major expansion into the UK and Ireland where 50 outlets were planned within a year, creating 1,500 jobs.

UK franchise manager Andy Cooke said: “We are seeking out a talented local business person to open our new franchised store in Grimsby. Franchising is a very lucrative business and franchisees working with Dominos Pizza are seeing exceptional returns on their investment.”

The takeaway finally opened in November 2005 with another opening in Laceby Road four years later. Domino’s then expanded into Cleethorpes with its largest outlet in the area in St Peter’s Avenue in June 2017.

Taco Bell

While North East Lincolnshire is usually one of the last places on a franchise’s location roll-out list, that wasn’t the case with Taco Bell.

An American institution dating back to 1962, the Tex-Mex eatery was, until quite recently, quite a slow burner in the UK. Its first British restaurant opened in London back in 1986, but the burritos and tacos didn’t grab enough attention and the firm closed all of the few locations it had launched in our country by the mid 1990s, except for two at RAF bases where the American military had a presence.



Crowds queue for the opening of the Taco Bell restaurant in Cleethorpes on July 19 last year
Crowds queuing outside Taco Bell on its opening day on July 19, 2016

This all changed in the late 2000s, when its owner, Yum! Brands, began a relaunch programme in the UK. Its first new store opened at the Lakeside Shopping Centre, in Essex, in June 2010, with two more introduced elsewhere by the end of 2011.

In April 2016, it was announced that Cleethorpes would be getting its very own Taco Bell and, in what seemed like something of a coup for the resort, it would be the chain’s first drive-thru restaurant in the UK and only its second in Europe. Overall, it was only the tenth Taco Bell in the UK.

Adjoined to the existing Subway building at Meridian Point, the eatery opened its doors for the first time on July 19, 2016 to a huge queue hoping to be among the first to “Live Mas” and enjoy the restaurant’s unique Mexican-inspired delicacies. The first 100 also snagged themselves a free limited edition numbered Cleethorpes Taco Bell T-shirt.

KFC

Finally, but actually first of the lot, we have the Colonel whose famous poultry first arrived in Cleethorpes well over 40 years ago.

The now-lost outlet in Market Place, Cleethorpes, was where Kentucky Fried Chicken made its debut in the area on October 24, 1980. An advertisement in the Grimsby Telegraph the day before promised a piece of chicken and jacket potato to each of the first 1000 people to walk through the door, along with free gifts for the children. Even if you missed out on the freebies, the ad had an unmissable offer in which visitors could get the ‘Colonel’s Special’ of two pieces of chicken, plus chips or jacket potato, along with beans or coleslaw and chicken sauce for £1 (just over £4 in today’s money).

It’s unsurprising that KFC was the first of the big American chains to arrive in our region as, across the UK as a whole, KFC actually predates McDonald’s, having first arrived on our shores way back in 1965 when a store opened in Preston.



The now-lost KFC in Market Street, Cleethorpes, which was the chain's first store in North East Lincolnshire
The now-lost KFC in Market Street, Cleethorpes, which was the chain’s first store in North East Lincolnshire

By the time the Golden Arches came to Britain in 1974, the Colonel had already opened around 250 outlets.

KFC didn’t expand its operations in our area until the new millennium, finally opening its first full-size drive-thru restaurant in North East Lincolnshire in November 2002 at Birchin Way, Grimsby. It had previously attempted to open an outlet at Nuns’ Corner but the proposals were quashed after a public inquiry in 1999.

At the same time, the chain planned to open another restaurant at the former Lynton House furniture store at the top of St Peter’s Avenue, in Cleethorpes, but this was eventually rejected by councillors.



An artist's impression of the KFC at Meridian Point, Cleethorpes, before construction began
An artist’s impression of the KFC at Meridian Point, Cleethorpes, before construction began

Of course, the Colonel did eventually manage to open a larger restaurant in the resort at Meridian Point next to McDonald’s. Customers were introduced to the new venue in July 2006 and there was little doubt it was going to prove a hit.

Manager Lee Broddle said: “It is located in a very good position for tourist trade from the Boating Lake, and also custom from the cinema. I predict we will have no problems whatsoever competing with the McDonald’s opposite.

“We expect it to be really busy.

“Customers can expect high-quality food, fast service and a pleasant visit.”

Join the FREE Grimsby Live WhatsApp Community

Get all the latest stories, sent straight to your WhatsApp – all you need to do is click the link.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our .

Scroll to Top