Burger King returns to Taunton town centre creating 25 new jobs

The fast food chain will be based on Fore Street on the former Carphone Warehouse premises at 34 Fore Street, which have been vacant since April 2020.

A planning application for the “change of use of ground and first floor level from sole retail (to joint restaurant and hot food takeaway” has recently been accepted by Somerset Council.

A planning document read: “Burger King would occupy the unit under mixed Class E(b) as a restaurant and Sui Generis as a hot food takeaway.

“The proposed change of use relates to 202m2 over ground and first floors of 34 Fore Street.

“The ground floor area would include the customer seating area together with customer and staff WCs, a trading area, kitchen, dry store, freezer, and chiller.

“The proposed restaurant will provide 24 covers in total and is anticipated to generate approximately 25 new jobs at the site.

“In terms of the proposed opening hours, the restaurant will trade between 7am - 11pm Sunday – Thursday and 7am – 12am (midnight) on Friday and Saturday. This is consistent with other similar nearby uses within the town centre.”

Burger King was previously based on High Street (Image: Newsquest)

A previous planning application said: “The occupation of the unit by Burger King will help to improve the street scene along this section of Fore Street by providing an active frontage and will help to drive footfall to the benefit of the viability of the wider shopping area.”

The business would be run by Scoffs Group UK Ltd, a franchise business that partners with Burger King and would operate the site.

Burger King previously operated out of premises in High Street, Taunton, until it closed in May 2014.