KFC has finally responded to speculation about potential new locations in Wokingham and Lower Earley.

Speculation recently swept through Facebook when a member of the Earley Residents Discussion Board page took a screenshot of a KFC located in the center of the Lower Earley District, and there were rumors that a KFC would open in Wokingham in recent years.

Although the Facebook screenshot indicated that a ‘restaurant’ and a ‘drive-thru’ in Lower Earley were both closed, that hasn’t stopped people from predicting that a new KFC is on the way. .

Oddly enough, a franchisee of the chicken chain, Haider Zaman, obtained advertising consent for the KFC brand in October last year at the Lower Earley District Center.

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But this consent has not yet been implemented. You can view the plans by entering planning reference 202177 into the Wokingham Borough Council Planning Portal here. The plan is for Unit 5a in the Lower Earley District Center, right Iceland.

According to the Franchise Info website, Mr. Zaman is the head of the SBR Group, which also owns at least 14 KFC outlets and Costa Coffee cafes.

Designs for a potential new KFC in Lower Earley, which were approved in October 2020. Credit: Hone Edwards Associates

The Lower Earley District Center currently has a McDonalds, Subway, Domino’s Pizza, M&S Foodhall, Iceland and a Budgens BP gas station.

Meanwhile, Wokingham has been identified as a location for a new KFC since the start of last year, with the possibility of the chicken chain opening up in the Elms Field development near the city center.

KFC was looking for team leaders, cooks and managers as part of a recruiting campaign that started in January of last year. But the track appears to have cooled down nearly two years after the start of the recruitment drive.

At the very least, it looks like KFC’s opening plans in these two locations are on hold.

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Responding to public speculation about potential venues in Wokingham and Lower Earley, a KFC spokesperson said, “We know our fans are always looking for ways to get their fix of fried chicken, so we are. always looking for new sites. Nothing is confirmed yet but watch this space.

Right now, the closest KFC for chicken lovers in Wokingham can be found either at KFC on Shinfield Road in Reading or Bagshot Road in Bracknell.

Oddly enough, when you place Wokingham in the “find a KFC” page on its website, it indicates that its nearest site is in Yateley, Hampshire.

Meanwhile, those in Lower Earley may have a KFC much closer to home, as its Shinfield Road site is just a mile away.