Tim Hortons planning next drive-thru on Boucher Road

CANADIAN coffee chain Tim Hortons is planning a new drive-thru in south Belfast amid a spike in demand for coffee-in-your-car during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The latest proposal relates to a site at the Balmoral Plaza Retail Park in the Boucher Road area of the city.

Tim Hortons currently operates three stores in the north, including two drive-thru outlets in Glengormley and the Connswater Retail Park and a coffee shop close to Belfast City Hall.

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Two other outlets in Coleraine and Portadown are currently in the planning process.

In a report produced late last year in support of its application for a coffee shop next to the Meadows Retail Park, Tim Hortons’ parent owner, the SK Group, indicated that it wants to open 25 outlets in Northern Ireland.

It’s latest proposed outlet in the Boucher Road would be located in the same retail park as Marks and Spencer, Harvey Norman and Home Bargains.

Costa Coffee is already operating from a unit at the entrance to Balmoral Plaza.

The application from Boucher Developments Limited centres on an area at the north west end of the site, currently used for parking.

A report produced by Gravis Planning has confirmed that, subject to approval, the unit will be occupied by Tim Hortons.

Meanwhile the pharmacy entrepreneur behind the Clear Group, Colin Johnston, has launched a bid for a drive-thru restaurant/coffee shop on the site of Antrim’s former Cineplex.

The cinema, which closed in 2014, is now occupied by a Clear Group pharmacy outlet. KFC also retains a presence on the Fountain Hill site.

Planning permission has already been secured to develop housing on part of the site.

The new application for the drive-thru restaurant/café has been submitted by Expedia Capital (Property No 2) Ltd. Mr Johnston is listed as owning a significant share in the firm.

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