Wendy’s, Vue, and Tim Hortons: big chains to come to Basildon

Here is a list of some of the big chains set to come to the borough:

1. Wendy’s:

A huge American burger giant is preparing to open a new site in Basildon after plans were approved earlier this week.

The world-renowned hamburger restaurant chain Wendy’s is opening a new drive-thru on the current car park at the Festival Leisure Park.

Basildon was previously home to a Wendy’s in the 1980s in the Eastgate Shopping Centre, while plans have also been submitted for the chain to open in Southend High Street.

2. Costa:

International coffee chain Costa is also set to open its doors with a drive-thru in Basildon.

Plans were approved alongside Wendy’s.

This will see both businesses open next to each other on the current car park at the Festival Leisure Park.

This would be the ninth Costa in the borough, after the coffee giant moves into the former Sainsbury's cafe at Cricketers retail park.

3. Vue:

Plans for new signs at Basildon’s town centre cinema are set to get the green light before the site opens “later this year”.

The long-delayed plans for a ten-screen cinema are set to progress at pace once new operator Vue puts new signs on the outside and re-fits inside of the cinema.

The £25million East Square development has been plagued by delays since Empire Cinema fell into administration last year.

However, after months of talks with the council it was announced last month that national cinema chain Vue would takeover.

4. Tim Hortons:

Tim Hortons had plans approved for a new restaurant and drive-through on the site of the former Burger Brats restaurant on Miles Gray Road back in 2022.

The Canadian fast-food chain will sit opposite the Pipps Hill Retail Park, and on the same road as the new St Hilary Retail Park which is currently under construction. 

Work has been ongoing for months, and it is still unknown how long it will be until opening.

However, Tim Horton have been contacted by the Echo, and are still yet to respond.