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The Builth Wells branch was a former Little Chef restaurant located at the junction of the A483 and A470 near the town of Builth Wells, Powys.

Address and Onsite Information[]

ADDRESS: A470 Station Road, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3SS

ONSITE FACILITIES: Burger King

History[]

Opened in 1984/85, the Little Chef at Builth Wells was built in order to increase Forte's representation of the brand in Wales and was the first of three sites to have opened on the A470 Cardiff to Llandudno route, with two Little Chefs at Abercynon and Dolgellau opening within the next few years. Given the 186 mile length of the A470, it would've been expected that more restaurants would've opened up along this vital route, especially given its popularity with holidaymakers and long distance traffic. However, each restaurant operated on a particular section of road, with Abercynon, Builth Wells and Dolgellau trading on the southern, central and northern parts respectively, making them attractive stops for travellers given the distance between each site.

Despite its rural location, the Little Chef at Builth Wells had all the elements of a successful site. First of all, it was located at the junction of two major routes, both of which were popular with long distance traffic travelling across Wales. Furthermore, it was situated on the doorstep of Builth Wells, meaning that the restaurant could benefit from local trade as well. Finally, the restaurant was positioned near some popular hotspots, such as the Brecon Beacons and the Royal Welsh Showground, meaning that it was likely to be popular with visitors. Given the popularity of the site, a Burger King was added to the restaurant by new owners, Granada, in 1997.

By 2016, Builth Wells was one of five Little Chefs left trading in Wales, whilst also having the title of being the oldest surviving Little Chef in Wales at the time, snatching the crown from Penmaenmawr Little Chef on the A55 when it closed in 2007. However, following the takeover by Euro Garages in 2017, every Little Chef in the UK was earmarked for closure. In January 2018, the restaurant closed and temporarily became an EG Diner. This later closed in October 2018 and the existing Burger King was soon refurbished by Euro Garages, complete with a brand new drive thru.

 

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