A Nantwich councillor wants to lure fast food giant McDonald’s to open a new outlet in the town.
Nantwich is one of the few sizeable towns in Cheshire which does not have the famous “golden arches” outlet.
Nearby towns like Crewe, Sandbach, Winsford, Whitchurch and Congleton all have a McDonald’s restaurant and Drive Thru’.
Now Cllr Riddell Graham believes Nantwich should be proactive in promoting itself as a destination for McDonald’s to open here.
He also believes the town should be attracting higher-end supermarket Waitrose, which has a store in Sandbach.
Both companies have recently announced plans to expand across the UK.
Cllr Graham has submitted a “Notice of Motion” to Nantwich Town Council which is set to be discussed at their monthly town council meeting this Thursday (September 19).
He says: “I seek support from the council to instruct the town clerk to write to Waitrose & Partners and McDonald’s to promote Nantwich as a town to consider establishing stores.
“Having heard on the news recently that both companies are seeking to expand in the UK, I believe many of our residents and visitors would welcome a Waitrose store or McDonald’s restaurant.”
The notice does not indicate any specific potential sites for such new outlets.
The idea of a McDonald’s in Nantwich has divided opinion over the years.
Some believe it would lower the town’s reputation, while many think as the town expands with more young families it would be a welcome addition.
A McDonald’s spokesperson told Nantwich News today: “We are always on the lookout for suitable locations and are currently exploring a number of opportunities in the wider area.”
And a Waitrose spokesperson said: “We are very flattered that there is a desire for a Waitrose in Nantwich and we would review any proposals from the council.”
McDonald’s announced in August it had plans to open more than 200 new restaurants across the UK and Ireland over the next four years in a £1bn expansion.
The firm said they wanted to introduce “Drive to” restaurants – with a car park, a small seating area, and no drive-through.
The move would increase the fast-food chain’s UK and Ireland footprint to 1,700 sites.
Alistair Macrow, McDonald’s UK and Ireland boss, said last month the plans show its “ongoing commitment” to growth and job creation in the two countries.
More than 24,000 jobs would be created by the expansion, McDonald’s said.
Similarly, Waitrose also announced plans last month to open 100 new convenience shops over the next five years.
The supermarket said the new stores would be opened across England, Wales and Scotland but said it could not share the exact locations of all of them.
Waitrose confirmed the move towards convenience shops was in response to changing consumer habits and demand.
(McDonald’s restaurant – pic under creative commons by Mtaylor848)
Another fast food outlet, is madness. There is a direct relationship between fast food outlets and obesity. This is again is an example of our incompetent counsellors thinking in siloes. Total madness
Lets pass the costs of obesity on to the National Health Service. You only have to observe the number of people who are seriously over weight. In other words they are fat.
Better off providing a soup kitchen offering people two to three portions of vegetables in a portion of soup.
If Waitrose want to open a store they are more than capable of finding a suitable location and doing so. Presumably they don’t think the town warrants another supermarket and that they wouldn’t make money.
As for McDonalds, it will not bring anyone to the own. If they build one it will be out on the bypass probably next to the Sacred Orchard.
@American Nightmare:
Alas, it’s not only our American friends who are guilty of corrupting our beautiful living language. I often hear people saying ‘haitch’ instead of ‘aitch’, ‘sat’ instead of ‘sitting’, and ‘should of’ instead of ‘should have’! E.g. “I was sat in my car at the Maccy D’s Drive Thru behind an ‘haitchGV’. I should of known better.”
(This never actually happened. I doubt if an HGV could access the Drive Thru area, and I would never entertain the idea of consuming ultra-processed ‘junk’ food with such high salt and saturated fat content. Ugh!)
Would prefer a Greggs. It is about time Chatwins had some competition.
They are vastly overpriced for what they offer and have had no competition in the town itself for years.
Far too many nail bars, charity shops and cafe’s.
I’m afraid that I too am guilty of that “snobbery” ( when it suits me ) being a Nantwich resident, but yes Pips you are dead right, I have absolutely no time or respect for anybody that tries to force their views upon somebody else.
This is the internet thingy and there’s a big difference between trolling and having the guts to say it as it is, it’s bound to hit a raw nerve with some folks, my suggestion is…..get over it.
All these folks squealing WE don’t need this or that really gets my goat and it seems that Nantwich has no shortage of them.
If you were to sit and really look around Nantwich both during the day and after dark you would see rats, lots of them, every town has them especially around or near any food outlet, so the rat issue is a moot point.
Sitting around Nantwich late at night is not advisable as there are many two legged rats which will do you far more harm than the furry ones…..which reminds me hasn’t one of the town eatery/restaurant type places just been given an extended opening licence ? As somebody already commented on with it’s associated anti social behaviour, so again another moot point.
This is exactly my point, call it snobbery, two faced or whatever you like but most of the arguments I’ve seen so far are from an individual’s point of view, trying to say it’s “everyone’s” view is just wrong.
Freedom of choice is a great thing you know.
The point’s about Nantwich being a beautiful town are very, very true, I love it, but will a McD’s spoil it……I think not.
I think Kev Peters response is 100% bang on, Nantwich cannot afford to just stand still, it needs to evolve, keep it beautiful but make it attractive to locals and passers by alike.
This notion is typical of this council – absolutely barking mad.
Slightly off-topic, but still relevant…
If you ever feel tempted to take your children to a McDonalds, check before you go how they spell “through”, as in “drive through”. Too many think that it’s spelled “thru”, as in “our friends on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean”.
Are any of these people real dabbers or the interlopers who have moved into Nantwich causing the house prices to go through the roof. So real dabbers can’t afford a house in there own town.
I have nothing against McDonald’s. I just don’t think it’s right for Nantwich.
Stephen King once said the symbol was the great tits of America, couldn’t have put it better.
Whatever next, a Wetherspoons!!!! The good people of Nantwich should be out picketing any signs of a fast food outlet lowering the tone of our fine town.
Anyone who thinks this would be a good thing for Nantwich, I recommend you go and spend some time at one of the 2 Crewe fast food burger restaurants on a weekend after dark. Then see if you still think its a good thing for our town. I’m pretty sure you will change your opinion once you’ve seen this. A fast food burger joint with extended opening ours and all the accompanying social issues, isnt it.
And as others have said, if that makes me a snob, I too am fine with that. We need to uphold some standards for the town and encourage the right type of development.
The last thing our beautiful mediaeval town needs is McDonalds selling ultra processed junk together with the vast amount of litter the packaging generates. If that makes me a snob, that’s fine with me. There are plenty of other people who share my views.
Would rather have a greggs
@Hattie Chewd – to revert to slagging off residents of Nantwich, just shows how little respect you have for people. Keep your trolling garbage to yourself
The councillor in question should visit Whitchurch’s McDs and sit in the car park for half an hour. The number and size of rats there will astound him!! Not to mention the amount of McDs litter found around the local Whitchurch roads….and most importantly, the food is crap! It’s a no from me!!
Will save every Nantwich parent trips to the Golden Arches in Crewe forever….. brilliant. Saves time, fuel and keeps money in town.
There’s a Macy’s in the middle of Monte Carlo…..
what’s the problem…
Better if it was a Burger King of KFC though????🙌🏻🙌🏻
McDonalds for the youth vote, Waitrose for the older money vote. They probably think they are geniuses.
This is what happens when LABOUR somehow end up running your town council. All the important things get forgotten and so much time and focus is given to nonsense like this. So out of touch
I suppose the councilors are oblivious to the fact of the costs involved in bringing yet another fast food outlet to our town, it really is not needed, all the current catering establishments are pretty much well placed to offer such anyway, maybe they should think on that, I would be more impressed with a mini Waitrose in the centre of town, as you cannot get a basket of food there easily, without schlepping across to Morrisons, however Home Bargains now do a selection of essentials, so clearly there is a need for a metro type shop now, given we should be walking and catching the bus, not taking the car every time
All I can say to all you nay sayers is bollocks, what an absolute load of !!
I’m pretty sure you are all two faced stuck up idiots who have many family members who would love a McD’s in town or on the outskirts.
It’s not only kids who eat them you know, I’ve seen many old folks in McD’s all over the country.
Have you never been in a car with you kids/grandkids and been pestered the hell out of to go and find one ?
A well placed McD’s could even be used a lure to get folks into town……look how many showed up for the food festival…….and there was some pretty well overpriced junk food to be had there too.
Nantwich is far too snobby for its own good, too many of you trying to choose what everybody wants.
There was plenty of moaning and whining about the Navio Lounge opening in town but everytime I go past (or in ) it’s plenty busy.
If somebody wants to set up a McD’s in Nantwich then let them have a chance…..you might be surprised.
The other small eateries in town will keep their customer base and we’ll still be able to slip in the vomit that is usually found outside the shops in Swine Market etc.
I could go on but I’m off to Crewe for a McD’s…..
Oh and as for an “upmarket supermarket” well I rest my case…..another bloody shop for the stuck up folks of Nantwich.
Folks, we’re in danger of offering statements, personal bias, political persuasion, assumptions and conjecture as fact, which in itself could pose a greater challenge to Nantwich than the introduction of greater choice. McDonald’s is a global brand, with a USP, operating very succesfully across multiple cultures and in far wealthier communities than ours, coexisting, even benefitting, other businesses. In the right place, in tandem with a massively developing Nantwich, and correct management, we needn’t be any different. Meanwhile, I’d suggest the demise of Crewe to be attributable to many other factors, rather than the introduction of this franchise, to include a lack of appropriate investment, and consumer choice. Towns rarely die through a lack of options, but they do if they fail to evolve. Nantwich has a healthy cafe culture, with a growing community, family and leisure feel. It also has a growing population, but it also has many empty commercial premises.
More diabetes, just what the world needs.
How about a motion for car parking in the town,it has expanded so much with outsiders with less parking now.Mcd only brings litter
Should be proud not to have the golden arches. Too many in Crewe but accessible if youre desperate. Should be boycotted.
Ah yes. The same Labour Party that wants Net Zero also wants a new McDonalds and Waitrose. Huge amounts of CO2 released in construction and operations. Does anyone call them out for this? Nah – it’s too much effort and takes time away from Netflix.
Rents up, Taxes up, Nantwich council at a loss on how to create value for our local traders AND now McDonald’s. Imagine how the likes of The Bookshop , Enzo, Cafe de Paris , to name but three are feeling. Imagine how our local independent takeaways are feeling. Nantwich already has Costa, Nero, Dominos , do we really need more and do we really want to destroy the essence, the culture and history of our market town. Surely the Council will be better served working with local business owners and to seek their views on how to grow business. But CE east as we no are incompetent and the current councillors need to be named as those who but a Big Mac on the map of Nantwich bringing the decline of an historic beautiful historic Town
There are plenty of fast food outlets in Nantwich with a good choice of food.
Dont need a burgur bar as well ?
Dont let Nantwich go the way that Crewe has gone ………
PW
What makes Nantwich different from any other affluent town with a MaccieDs presence, suggestingit will lower standards? It can, and should, easily be accommodated without any negative impact, perhaps as part of a hub of other similar outlets, allowing the many who currently travel to Crewe a far easier option, while those not wanting it can simply vote with their feet, as is the very essence of personal choice, and the principles of our democratic society…or at least that used to be the case! In the process, it will create jobs, amongst other positives. If other outlets are challenged, they simply need to up their game. It’s called competition.
Waitrose had the opportunity years ago but chose to go to Sandbach. We got Morrisons.
McDonalds is a franchise organisation, anyone can get involved. Waitrose is a private business. Both would be in town if they thought there was a profit margin to be made.
Don’t these people have anything better to do? Sounds like a bunch of busy fools trying to find stuff to do to make themselves feel important.
We have three locally run kebab/pizza style fast food shops in the heart of the town. Why not give them a good hard kick?
The idea of creating more out of town centre food and retail outlets would not benefit the footfall and current businesses in the town centre.
The town centre has developed an established cafe, restaurant and bar scene so adding a McDonald’s potentially could impact on the town centre trade.
The town already benefits from several large supermarkets so why add another on the edge of town.
Surely the best fit for a Waitrose would be in town on the large ex empty Woolworth store on Swine market, the same spot linked to Boothes recently.
The sarcastic side of me would say utilise the space where the bus station is, now there are no buses to bring shoppers into the town, or take them to the edge of town to shop. They could use a car and pay the increased car park charges.
Let’s not be complacent about taking shopping away from the town centre, sadly Crewe is the perfect example of this There is room to develop and attract new business within the footprint of our town centre, let’s embrace that first.
McDonald’s Nantwich literally a recipe for disaster for struggling local catering food business, don’t kick them when they are down, only so many customers to go round.
What planet is this councillor from the people of Nantwich definitely do not want any golden arches.
No, no, no! It is a relief to be in a town with no ‘golden arches’. There is absolutely no need for a cheap eatery to appear. There are plenty of lovely places already in Nantwich to get anything from snacks upwards.