A POPULAR American chain is set to open a new restaurant in Southend next month, and here is what to expect from the opening.

Wendy’s, the well-known American hamburger brand, will officially open at 66-68 Southend High Street on July 5 at 10.30am.

The restaurant promises freshly prepared food, made-to-order, and served hot off the grill.

Customers are also in for an exclusive opening day offer.

The first 30 customers will get a free Dave's Single, guaranteeing a busy first day.

Ali Rupani, director at NFH Restaurants responsible for the franchise of Wendy's Southend, said: "After much buzz surrounding this location, we are very excited to confirm the opening date of Wendy’s in Southend.

"We have seen customers in Essex love Wendy’s great-tasting food, and we are excited to start offering fast food done right to Southend High Street.”

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Having re-entered the UK market in 2021, Wendy's now operates more than 30 branches across the country.

The Southend opening follows successful launches in Colchester and Chelmsford, where customers queued around the block to savour Wendy's offerings.

Michael Clarke, managing director of Wendy's Europe, added: "We are thrilled for Wendy’s to arrive in the lovely community of Southend.

"It is great to work with strong franchisees, like NFH, that are helping to expand Wendy’s footprint in the UK, ensuring more Brits can experience our freshly prepared, made to order menu.”

Beyond their iconic square beef patties, Wendy's commitment to quality extends to fresh and local ingredients in the preparation of their diverse menu offerings.

All items are made-to-order, featuring Wendy's tender chicken and fresh-daily salads – all prepared and served hot off the grill.

Some of the popular menu options include The Baconator, Dave's Double, and Chicken Wraps.

Other menu variety includes the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, the Curry Bean Burger, Chicken Nuggets, and the Frosty® dessert.

Wendy's has also marked its identity with its locally sourced fresh British beef and all fillet chicken, alongside the daily freshly prepared salads.

Visitors can also indulge in the latest additions to Wendy's menu, including the Frostyccino and White Chocolate Strawberry Frosty, which will be available on opening day.

The Frostyccino combines iced espresso with Wendy's legendary vanilla or chocolate Frosty mix to craft a refreshing summer treat.

The White Chocolate Strawberry Frosty is a new, innovative take on this iconic dessert featuring a delicious strawberry puree and topped with white chocolate shavings.