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{{Little_Chef_Infobox
 
{{Little_Chef_Infobox
 
|title = Axminster
 
|title = Axminster
|image = Axminster.png
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|image = Axminster.jpg
|Name = Axminster
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|Name = Axminster
 
|Number = 291
 
|Number = 291
 
|Year Opened = 1984/85
 
|Year Opened = 1984/85
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|Name of village/town = Shute, Axminster
 
|Name of village/town = Shute, Axminster
 
|Name of county = Devon
 
|Name of county = Devon
|Postcode = EX13 7PZ}}
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|Postcode = EX13 7PZ
The '''Axminster''' branch was a Little Chef restaurant located on the A35 in Shute near Axminster, Devon.
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}}The '''Axminster''' branch was a Little Chef restaurant located on the A35 in Shute near Axminster, Devon.
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==Address and Onsite Facilities==
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'''ADDRESS: '''A35, Shute, Axminster, Devon, EX13 7PZ
   
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'''ONSITE FACILITIES: '''Starbucks
Opened in 1984/85, Axminster was built as a standalone Little Chef restaurant in the village of Shute in the south of Devon. Although Axminster wasn't occupied by any other facilities, it still had some positives to it which allowed this Little Chef site to be successful in a way. For starters, it was built on a single carriageway road, meaning that the Little Chef could feed Olympic Breakfasts to all traffic on the A35! Also, being in a densely populated village, the restaurant was well known by locals as well as fellow traffic on the A35 and the residents of Shute could walk just a few minutes away to enjoy the Little Chef experience, thus the restaurant attracted locals as well as travellers. In some people's opinions, Little Chefs located in the centre of villages are nicer than Little Chefs on dual carriageways so Axminster's location was chosen wisely.
 
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==History==
   
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Throughout the 70s and 80s, and in order to rapidly expand the Little Chef chain across Britain, Forte set about purchasing a number of roadside buildings on major A-roads, including existing cafes and houses, and converting them into Little Chef restaurants. This was a process which saved time and money as it meant that Forte didn't have to build as many restaurants from scratch. Opened in 1984/85, Axminster was a standalone Little Chef restaurant in the village of Shute, a few miles away from Axminster, and was formerly the Swanmoor Café.
Like some other Little Chefs, Axminster is an example of a glorious 80s Little Chef. For starters, the restaurant is housed inside of a converted house which was the common Little Chef building of the 70s and 80s when Forte were expanding the Little Chef chain. Also, the restaurant retains its 80s logo, symbolising that it is a pretty old branch. As for the interior, it has its old school features such as the furniture and lampshades. The only modern feature of Axminster is the totem which sports the 1990s/2000s Charlie on it.
 
   
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Although deprived of any other onsite facilities, Axminster's location on a single carriageway section of the A35 meant that the restaurant was easily accessible to all traffic. Furthermore, the route's popularity with holidaymakers retreating to nearby Cornwall and the rest of Devon meant that it was a site popular with tourists as well. It was a site well chosen.
In March 2017, Axminster was one of a few Little Chefs to close down. It was set to re-open as a Starbucks in May. 
 
   
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Although it is believed that Axminster didn't receive the Choices makover in 2002, it received similar furniture used in this refurbishment scheme, giving the restaurant the character of a Choices branch without the use of menus from other brands. Around 2015, the restaurant was given a light refresh and the furniture had changed once again.
   
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Despite doing a decent trade, coupled with the fact that this standalone Little Chef had dodged a huge closures list between 2001 and 2012 (an era when standalone restaurants were usually the ones up for the chop), the Little Chef at Axminster finally closed its doors in 2017, following Little Chef's takeover by service station operator, Euro Garages. It later reopened as a Starbucks.
   
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<gallery>
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<gallery widths="185">
shute.png|As a Starbucks in 2018.
 
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Axminster_2008.PNG|Google StreetView in 2008
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Axminster_2015.PNG|Google StreetView in 2015
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Axminster_2016.PNG|Google StreetView in 2016
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Axminster_2017.PNG|Google StreetView in 2017, shortly after closing
 
Shute.png|As a Starbucks in 2018
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 
[[Category:Former Little Chefs]]
 
[[Category:Former Little Chefs]]
 
[[Category:Current Starbucks Sites]]
 
[[Category:Current Starbucks Sites]]
 
[[Category:2017 Closures]]
 
[[Category:2017 Closures]]
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[[Category:Little Chefs on the A35]]
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[[Category:1984/85 Openings]]

Revision as of 18:18, 14 May 2021

The Axminster branch was a Little Chef restaurant located on the A35 in Shute near Axminster, Devon.

Address and Onsite Facilities

ADDRESS: A35, Shute, Axminster, Devon, EX13 7PZ

ONSITE FACILITIES: Starbucks

History

Throughout the 70s and 80s, and in order to rapidly expand the Little Chef chain across Britain, Forte set about purchasing a number of roadside buildings on major A-roads, including existing cafes and houses, and converting them into Little Chef restaurants. This was a process which saved time and money as it meant that Forte didn't have to build as many restaurants from scratch. Opened in 1984/85, Axminster was a standalone Little Chef restaurant in the village of Shute, a few miles away from Axminster, and was formerly the Swanmoor Café.

Although deprived of any other onsite facilities, Axminster's location on a single carriageway section of the A35 meant that the restaurant was easily accessible to all traffic. Furthermore, the route's popularity with holidaymakers retreating to nearby Cornwall and the rest of Devon meant that it was a site popular with tourists as well. It was a site well chosen.

Although it is believed that Axminster didn't receive the Choices makover in 2002, it received similar furniture used in this refurbishment scheme, giving the restaurant the character of a Choices branch without the use of menus from other brands. Around 2015, the restaurant was given a light refresh and the furniture had changed once again.

Despite doing a decent trade, coupled with the fact that this standalone Little Chef had dodged a huge closures list between 2001 and 2012 (an era when standalone restaurants were usually the ones up for the chop), the Little Chef at Axminster finally closed its doors in 2017, following Little Chef's takeover by service station operator, Euro Garages. It later reopened as a Starbucks.