Popular Canadian coffee outlet, Tim Hortons, given go-ahead to open Northampton store

A popular Canadian coffee outlet, Tim Hortons will open in Northampton after plans were approved for it to move into the former Pizza Hut in Riverside Retail Park.

The coffee and bakehouse outlet will have a drive-through lane, the store will be refurbished and there will be employment opportunities at the site, according to the planning papers.

This newspaper asked Tim Hortons what date the store will be opening but the company was unable to confirm at this point in time.

The company, which sells coffee, doughnuts and bagels, has 4,500 chains in native Canada and the US, and since 2017 has opened 27 outlets in the UK.

It will join other fast-food and coffee chains in Riverside Retail Park including KFC, McDonald's and Costa Coffee.

The franchise reportedly aims to launch an outlet in "every major English town and city by 2022".

Pizza Hut closed its restaurant in Riverside in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Chron readers' Reaction

Here's what Chron readers said on Facebook when Tim Hortons first submitted its plans earlier this year:

Gaz Walk said: "Once you've had Tim Hortons you've touched the stars and no other will do!"

Lynda Goodman said: "Visited lots of these when we were in Canada. Can’t wait for them to come here. Give our coffee places a run for there money."

Hazel Buckley said: "Never heard of Tim Hortons. It would be nice to have something new in Northampton. I had no idea Pizza Hut at Riverside had closed down permanently. For all the moaners out there saying we have enough coffee drive throughs, isn’t it better to have an empty unit being used by another company rather than it sit there derelict?"

Brian Skittrall said: "Hate coffee but loved Tim Hortons when I visited Canada because they did proper tea and cakes!"

Dominic Houghton said: "Doesn't Northampton have enough coffee shops already?"