Wendy's: Plan to open new burger restaurant one door down from McDonald's in Sheffield city centre

A vacant former phone shop would be converted to become the latest branch of the US fast food chain, which is expanding rapidly across the UK, under plans submitted to Sheffield Council on behalf of Papas Hospitality Group. The restaurant would occupy part of the basement, the ground floor and the first floor mezzanine of the building, which has a distinctive two-storey glass facade, with the upper floors remaining unoccupied, according to planning applications.

Permission has been sought to alter the shop front, provide heating, ventilation and air conditioning ducts to the roof, and install new illuminated signs. One planning application states that the planned work ‘facilitates the occupation of this unit by Wendy’s who are a well known high street brand making a return to the UK’. It adds: “They will ensure the future upkeep of this unit in a way that adds vitality and viability.”

Two separate planning applications for different changes have been submitted to the council, with a decision yet to be published for either. The area outside the former phone shop could this week be seen fenced off with some work appearing to already be underway.

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Wendy’s first announced in 2019 that it was making a return to the UK, having been absent for 20 years. In November 2021, it said the relaunch on these shores had proved so successful that bosses planned to open a further 50 sites across the country in 2022.