Progress is being made on a years-long project for an American burger chain to open its first drive-thru restaurant in the area.
Plans have been in the works since 2020 for a new restaurant to be built in the car park of the Showcase Cinema, located between Reading and Winnersh.
Construction began earlier this year, with photos from the site showing bricks laid and the foundations of the building being established.
Initially, the project was just for a restaurant for customers to drive to, with plans for a two-lane drive-thru being submitted afterwards.
The plans did face concerns from late councillor Paul Fishwick and Winnersh Parish Council as the Showcase car park has experienced flood events.
But ultimately, the Environment Agency and Wokingham Borough Council’s planning department concluded the Five Guys location is at low risk, with the project being approved last October.
It has resulted in the loss of around 56 parking spaces on the site.
A retrospective planning application has recently been submitted following the relocation of a totem sign for the Costa Coffee, which has been at the Showcase Cinema site for a number of years.
You can view the application by typing reference 252012 into Wokingham Borough Council’s planning portal.
Five Guys opened its second-ever UK restaurant at The Oracle in Reading in 2013.
It is due to open a new restaurant at the former All Bar One bar at The Oracle Riverside.
The chain has seen an expansion in the area, opening in Windsor in July 2022 and Bracknell in May 2023.
Five Guys opened its first drive-thru location in England at the Teesside retail park in Middlesbrough.
