Fast food giant Burger King looks set to open at the former KFC site in Newtown.

A new banner with the Burger King logo which has been placed in front of the Pool Road restaurant says that the chain is "Coming Soon".

KFC closed the doors of its restaurant for good on Sunday, January 9, after almost six years in the town.

But the departure of KFC from the town was quickly replaced by rumours that Burger King was set to make its long-awaited entry to Newtown by opening in the vacant store.

Job listings for Burger King were posted online earlier this month which include crew members, shift leader and site managers.

The job adverts appear to suggest that the new branch will be based in Pool Road.

A spokeswoman for Burger King was able to confirm that a new restaurant will be opening in Newtown at some point in 2022.

She said: “Burger King UK can confirm that Newtown, Powys will become a new home to the Whopper, opening its doors this year.

“Stay tuned for more details around opening date and location.”

It is not yet known exactly how many jobs will be created with the launch of the new branch.

Burger King still has intact planning permission in place for a new drive-thru store on the same site as the Tesco supermarket, also in Pool Road.

The site near Tesco received planning permission in 2018, after a planning application was submitted the previous year.

 

Work has begun on the newly closed KFC branch in Newtown. Picture by Paul Williams.

Work has begun on the newly closed KFC branch in Newtown. Picture by Paul Williams.

 

KFC has has not revealed why it decided to close the Newtown restaurant, which opened on the former Co-op site opposite McDonalds in 2016.

The outlet was the only KFC store in Powys.

A KFC Spokesperson said: “It’s been a great run, but all good things must come to an end, so on Sunday we’re closing our doors for good at KFC Newtown.

“We’ll miss our loyal fans but never say never to a restaurant opening nearby in the future.”

In 2016, it was reported that between 50 and 60 jobs were created by the fast food chain, which Newtown East Councillor Joy Jones said at the time that she was “delighted” with the economic benefit the new food outlet would bring to the area.

The nearest KFC restaurants to Newtown are based in Aberystwyth, Oswestry and Shrewsbury.