Town to get its first Nando's restaurant

Plans for Scunthorpe's first Nando's restaurant has been approved by the council.

The chicken restaurant has more than 470 restaurants across the UK and will take over the former Pizza Hut unit at Gallagher Retail Park, off Doncaster Road.

Under the proposals, the outlet will have capacity for more than 100 diners.

Neil Stamp, who owns Mr Brunch, a restaurant on Doncaster Road, said he would have preferred there to have been something a bit more unique to draw people into the town but added it was "better than having an empty building".

Stamp said: "It's just Nando's isn't it? It won't entice anyone to Scunthorpe.

"People will visit from Scunthorpe but not from outside."

An opening date for the shop has not been confirmed, but the company said it would provide further details in the "coming months".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, there has already been activity at the site, which formerly housed a Pizza Hut restaurant.

The chicken chain announced it would also open a restaurant in Grimsby. It will occupy a space in the redeveloped Freshney Place Shopping Centre, which is expected to be completed by early Summer 2027.

In February, Nando's, along with other major chains, was criticised after it ditched a commitment to improve chicken sourcing standards in the UK.

Poultry demand has soared with Britain seeing a surge in the number of takeaway chicken shops in recent years.

UKHospitality, which represents some of the restaurant brands that withdrew from the pledge, said despite the change the businesses were "committed to enhancing their ongoing work across welfare and the environment".

Traders on Scunthorpe High Street previously told the BBC they are in need of more businesses to give the town a boost.

Maurice D'John, who runs a gallery and picture-framing shop in the town, said: "If you get more retailers in, then the high street will improve."

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