FAST FOOD giant KFC wants to open at least seven new outlets in Oxfordshire – taking two off the previous list.

In 2019, we revealed that the finger lickin’ favourite had earmarked nine Oxfordshire locations including Witney, Didcot and Abingdon.

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Rumours were sparked on social media that a new Witney store would be opening in the new year after eagled-eyed shoppers spotted 'KFC promo posters' in the windows of the old Lidl yesterday. 

Most of the branches planned for Oxfordshire will be drive-thru’s, but a sit-down restaurant in Summertown is also planned.

But now two restaurants have come off the ‘targeted locations’ list on the KFC website.

The locations in Oxfordshire are now:

  • Oxford Botley – Drive Thru
  • Oxford Summertown – Restaurant
  • Oxford Cowley – Drive Thru
  • Headington – Drive Thru
  • Didcot – Drive Thru
  • Abingdon – Drive Thru
  • Witney – Drive Thru

Plans for Bicester and Banbury have seemingly been shelved. 

Yesterday KFC fans were delighted after a poster in Witney said a branch would be opening in January. 

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A post on Spotted: Witney Facebook page showed the advert which said: ‘New KFC is coming. What about you?’

One resident said they were ‘feeling disappointed’ after going to the store, inspecting the sign, and realising it had been stuck to the ‘outside’ and was ‘very obviously fake’.

 

Just inspected the KFC sign and it's stuck on the outside and looks very obviously fake.

Posted by Spotted Witney Official on Friday, 13 November 2020

In 2019 a spokesperson for the company said: “We have bold ambitions to have over 1,000 stores in the UK and Ireland by 2020. We are looking to build 50 new stores a year.”

KFC have been contacted for a new comment.