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Five Guys allowed to open at Ashford Designer Outlet despite featuring on list of 'banned' restaurants

By: Georgia Woolf

Published: 16:19, 10 June 2019

Updated: 16:26, 10 June 2019

A burger chain thought to be banned from opening in the Designer Outlet has been allowed to move into the new extension.

Five Guys - which arrived in Ashford last month - had previously been included in the list of companies restricted from opening in the centre.

The list was agreed between Ashford Borough Council (ABC) and McArthurGlen when planning approval was granted for the £90 million expansion in 2015.

Five Guys is opening at the Designer Outlet (11446508)

Almost 40 companies - including JD Wetherspoons, TGI Fridays and Nandos - cannot be approached by the owners of the Ashford Designer Outlet in order to protect the town centre.

Five Guys was one of the restaurants listed, but planning officers have since allowed the fast food chain to move into the centre as they had no desire to open elsewhere in the town.

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The American fast food restaurant will be based at the new Food Piazza, and will be joined by a host of other restaurants that are expected to be announced in the coming months.

Here's a full list of the banned restaurants:

A council spokesman said: “We want the Designer Outlet and town centre working in a complementary way and together providing something that will attract visitors and improve Ashford’s overall retail and entertainment offer for our residents.

"Therefore when the outlet expansion was approved the council negotiated an agreement in respect of the restaurants that could open there.

"We believe this was one of the first agreements in the country at the time and demonstrates our ongoing commitment to ensuring the town centre continues to thrive, alongside an expanded Designer Outlet Centre.

“It’s important to note that the agreement was negotiated with McArthurGlen, and not imposed on them by the council. It was also agreed at the time to keep the situation under review, which we have done.

"When it became clear that Five Guys had no desire to move to the town centre, discussions were held with all parties to secure this brand for the residents of Ashford, and we are delighted to welcome them here.”

Here's a list of retailers which have been permitted under the plans although this is not a definite list of shops which are going to open:

So far, Pret a Manger, YO! Sushi and Lost Sheep Coffee have opened in the new food piazza, while Zwilling and Paul Costelloe are the first homeware and fashion brands to open.

Five Guys will open later this year and other brands are set to be announced in the coming months.

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The expanded Outlet is due to open in Autumn 2019, and will include 50 new premium and luxury brands and new facilities such as an events space, food piazza and 725 car additional car parking spaces.

It is also expected to create 500 new jobs in the town.

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