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News

We take a first look at the new Taco Bell in Maidstone

By: Cara Simmonds csimmonds@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 19:50, 31 March 2022

Updated: 21:21, 31 March 2022

A global fast food chain has had a grand opening in a Kent town centre today.

Taco Bell opened its store in Maidstone, officially becoming the second branch in the county.

We visited the new Taco Bell branch in Maidstone, seen here in the morning before opening to the public

Reporters Ben Austin and Cara Simmonds went to Week Street to check out the new arrival.

Not fazed by the sleet and snow, manager Tiji Thomas opened the doors to find a queue of customers this morning.

Mr Thomas said: "We were looking at multiple places to find the right location in town. The KFC down the road belongs to us as well. We were happy to find the right place here.

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"We looked around a lot of places in the UK, but we chose Maidstone because you have the shopping centre nearby and the public footpath, so we will have a lot of coverage all the time.

"Customers can expect great service, and as a brand we want to deliver the best service they expect from us."

Taco Bell is located in Week Street, opposite Superdrug
The new branch has a modern upstairs eating area

The Mexican-inspired fast food restaurant came to the UK in 2010 and currently operates 87 restaurants.

This Taco Bell is part of the Fremlin Walk ownership and has replaced Bill's restaurant, which shut in 2020 due to Covid-19.

Both Maidstone residents and Taco Bell fans arrived for the store's grand opening, many delighted to grab a burrito or two.

Elliott Manford, a business owner from Maidstone, said: "I work here and it saves going to Chatham every day to go to Taco Bell."

A group of students said they were big Taco Bell fans, with one saying: "We literally came to town just for the Taco Bell!

A group of students were happy to be one of the first customers through the door, and received a free Taco Bell T-shirt
Maeve, Betty and Ella, from Kings Hill, came especially for the grand opening

"We saw they were giving away free T-shirts as well and you get a free taco.

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"I think it’s nice to have more fast food options in town, all the other places are just pretty much in the same direction.

"You have the generic ones like KFC and McDonald’s, but this is a bit different."

Another said: "It’s a really good first experience and it's even better as we were one of first people here.

"It’s a total claim to fame – everyone is going to be so jealous when we say we were one of the first to go to Taco Bell, and we also have a Taco Bell's T-shirt.

Customers will be able to order from one of two touch screens, or speak to a member of staff at the counter
Reporter Cara Simmonds enjoys a beef taco at the new store

"They actually had a go at us for coming in too early when the door was open, we were so excited.

"We had already started our order, so we were technically the first people to order at Taco Bell!"

From burritos to quesadillas, even churros dipped in chocolate, Taco Bell serves a wide range of Mexican-inspired fast food.

Not wanting to miss out, we ordered our own, going for the 'Regular Chalupa Supreme Meal', which consisted of two tacos filled with beef, lettuce, tomato and sour cream.

It also came with seasoned fries and a fizzy drink, totalling £5.99.

The building used to be home to Bill's restaurant which shut in 2020 due to Covid-19
Maidstone Taco Bell manager Tiji Thomas, left, and reporter Ben Austin

Fremlin Walk centre manager, Lloyd Wright, said: “We’re delighted that Taco Bell is finally open in Fremlin Walk, and wish the new team a warm welcome to the centre.

"There was a real buzz around the opening this morning, with a queue of customers eager for their first Taco Bell Maidstone experience.

Read more!

“The good news doesn’t stop here either. We’ll soon be able to announce even more exciting new retailers at Fremlin Walk.”

Kent saw its first Taco Bell arrive at the Chatham Dockyard in Medway, and now the Mexican chain is bidding to open a third store in Canterbury.

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