The Halkyn branch was a former Little Chef on the A55 near Halkyn, Flintshire.
Address and Onsite Information[]
ADDRESS: A55, Halkyn, Holywell, Flintshire, CH8 8DF
ONSITE FACILITIES: Burger King, Travelodge (Book Room)
LITTLE CHEF NOW: Burger King
History[]
The Little Chef at Halkyn first opened in 1982, initially as a standalone site on the A55 between Chester and Conwy. The restaurant was housed within a building constructed using stone, most likely to reflect the character of the surrounding Welsh landscape. The building was also set higher than the road, facing out over the River Dee Estuary, making for a scenic view whilst dining.
In the mid 1980s, a Little Chef Lodge hotel was added to the site, although this was re-branded as Travelodge by 1989.
In the 1990s, Forte launched a trial concept in a bid to try and attract more evening diners, especially from the lodges and a young professional clientelle. Certain restaurants were given an internal makeover with new carpets, tables, chairs, softer lighting, blinds and higher quality partitions and kitchen areas and were also treated to air conditioning. These restaurants were also given blue branding on the outside to set them apart. It is unclear whether the blue signified that the restaurants were a new concept, whether it was chosen to set apart those that were air conditioned or whether it was part of a plan by Forte to rebrand the whole estate. Whereas other sites which received the blue branding would have their signage reverted back to red following Granada's acquisition of Little Chef in the mid 1990s, Halkyn retained a majority of its blue signage and was in fact the last surviving branch of Little Chef to still feature the blue branding.
In the 1990s, a Forte Coffee Stop was added to the site, although this later closed.
In April 2015, the Little Chef at Halkyn was converted into a Burger King by Little Chef's then owners, Kout Food Group. The restaurant was later acquired by Euro Garages, who refurbished the building and added a Greggs in 2018. The Greggs was later removed from the site in 2020.
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