The Barton-under-Needwood branch (also known as Burton North) was a former Little Chef restaurant located on the northbound side of the A38 near Burton on Trent, Staffordshire.
Address and Onsite Information[]
ADDRESS: A38 Northbound, Barton-under-Needwood, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 8EG
ONSITE FACILITIES: Starbucks, Travelodge (Book Room)
LITTLE CHEF NOW: Starbucks
History[]
The Little Chef at Barton-under-Needwood first opened on the 7th October 1982, initially as a standalone site on the northbound side of the A38 between Birmingham and Derby. In the first instance, the restaurant was housed within a rectangular building with a flat roof; however, a pitched roof was later added.
Despite their hotel chain, Little Chef Lodge, first being introduced at Gretna Green in 1976, a relaunched concept of Little Chef Lodge was introduced to Barton-under-Needwood in 1985. This saw hotels adopt a simple design that kept planning and construction costs low. In addition, operating costs were much lower than at a normal hotel too, because Little Chef Lodges were able to share their management and resources with the Little Chef restaurant. By 1989, the Little Chef Lodge at Barton-under-Needwood became a Travelodge.
Located about half a mile north on the southbound side was the Burton branch of Happy Eater. Following its conversion to a Little Chef in 1996, this created a dual-sided site and the Barton-under-Needwood Little Chef was often referred to as the Burton North branch thereafter.
In January 2012, then owners R Capital announced the closure of 67 unprofitable Little Chefs nationwide, with Barton-under-Needwood being one of the affected branches. The Little Chef closed in January 2012, with the building converted into an independent known as Regales shortly afterwards. This was then converted into a Starbucks in 2019.
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