The Kettering West branch was a Little Chef restaurant located on the westbound side of the A14 near Kettering, Northamptonshire.
Address and Onsite Information[]
ADDRESS: A14 Westbound, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14 1RW
ONSITE FACILITIES: BP, Wild Bean Cafe (forecourt), M&S Simply Food (forecourt), Starbucks, Travelodge (Book Room)
History[]
Opened in 1996/97, the Little Chef at Kettering West was one of three Little Chef restaurants to have opened on the A14 link road between the M1 and A1. It was built as one half of a dual sided service station and was built alongside a busy filling station and lodge which presented a great oppurtunity for Little Chef to attract additional custom from these facilities. In 1998, Kettering West was joined by its partner in crime Kettering East which was built on the eastbound side of the A14 in order to serve eastbound traffic.
After the success of Popham, Kettering West became the third site to get "Hestonised" following Little Chef's high-profile partnership with Chef Heston Blumenthal. The site gained the Ab Rogers designed interior featuring the modern British diner decor and "Blue Sky Thinking" ceiling. It was also the second site to receive Little Chef's new branding with mascot, Fat Charlie receiving a proper chefs jacket which replaced his neckerchief on the logo. Only two sites, Kettering West and York East, received this branding as the logo was changed again after their refurbishment. Unlike Popham and York East, Kettering West was the only Hestonised Little Chef that didn't recieve a Little Chef Express.
Soon after the refurbishment of the Little Chef, there were plans for a Burger King to open on site in order to provide a second restaurant option for travellers. However, this never materialised.
Following the takeover of the Little Chef chain by Euro Garages, Kettering West was closed in July 2017. It reopened as a Starbucks in the summer of 2017.
