Find local news in Kent

Home   Medway   News   Article

Huge queues as Taco Bell opens in Chatham Dockside

11:22, 15 May 2019

updated: 14:42, 16 May 2019

Kent's first ever Taco Bell has officially opened, with diners queuing outside to get a taste of the new restaurant.

The first customer was welcomed into the Chatham Dockside restaurant at 11am this morning.

Hundreds are now queuing outside, excitedly waiting to bite into a beefy burrito or quesadilla.

The queues outside the new Taco Bell in Chatham

The earliest arrivals are bagging themselves a free t-shirt with the restaurant's branding.

Chatham's first ever Taco Bell customer, Lee Murphy, is the proud owner of the '1' t-shirt.

He ordered a chicken nacho quesadilla, two beef tacos, fries and a Pepsi.

Lee Murphy from Chattenden was the first customer at the opening of the Taco Bell at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10357678)
Lee Murphy from Chattenden was the first customer at the opening of the Taco Bell at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10357678)

Second and third through the door, Lilly Crawford and Dylan Williams have been eagerly waiting for the Mexican-themed restaurant to open since 8.30am.

They said: "We're super excited!"

Mr Williams is from America so it's been a hotly anticipated wait for him.

Lilly Crawford and Dylan Williams were the 3rd and 2nd customers at the opening of the Taco Bell at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10357990)
Lilly Crawford and Dylan Williams were the 3rd and 2nd customers at the opening of the Taco Bell at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10357990)

Mo Bousseda, general manager of the Chatham store, said: "We are really excited, this is a beautiful town. This is store number 40 for us and we are very happy to be in Kent."

The team are expecting to serve between 600 and 700 people today.

At 11.53am Jack Jones and Abi Robinson, all the way from Deal, are the last in a very long queue.

Last in the queue Jack Jones and Abi Robinson
Last in the queue Jack Jones and Abi Robinson

Jack said: "We're definitely going to wait. We've wanted to come to Taco Bell for ages.

Abi added: "We're from Deal so it's about an hour away, we drove up.

"This our first time at Taco Bell."

Just some of the customers keen to sample Taco Bell after the opening at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10357993)
Just some of the customers keen to sample Taco Bell after the opening at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10357993)
Customers wait patiently after the opening of the Taco Bell at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10358007)
Customers wait patiently after the opening of the Taco Bell at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10358007)

Another loyal to the cause is James Roche.

He said: "Me and my mate have been planning this since we saw it on KentOnline.
"I called him and said, I'm going to pick you up at 8.30am.

"I've been so excited for the first Taco Bell in Kent!"

James Roche collects his order from Bethany Griffin after the opening of the Taco Bell at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10357679)
James Roche collects his order from Bethany Griffin after the opening of the Taco Bell at The Quays, Dock Head Road, St Mary's Island, Chatham on Wednesday. Picture: Chris Davey..... (10357679)

It is the 40th restaurant run by the American chain to open in the UK - but the first in Kent.

For more ideas of where to eat, drink and shop, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Medway

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More