Dunkin’ to open branch in empty unit on Broadway

The former Bright House unit at the Xchange on Broadway has been earmarked for a new Dunkin’ cafe.

Formerly known as Dunkin Donuts, the donut and coffee brand has been a common site on American highways for decades, but has had a minimal presence in the UK until recently.

The company opened its first unit in Bradford, a drive thru restaurant at Odsal, in late 2020, and still only has a handful of locations in the UK.

Now a seemingly mundane planning application submitted to Bradford Council has revealed that Dunkin now has its sights set on Bradford city centre.

SPQ ltd has submitted plans for an internally illuminated sign on the shopfront of 27 Broadway.

“Rent to own” retailer Bright House went into administration in early 2020, leading to the closure of its shops across the country.

The Bradford branch has remained vacant ever since.

More details of new city steakhouse - which could have seating for over 300 people

The new Dunkin unit would be the latest in a series of food businesses to open in that area of the city centre.

Although popular burger chain Five Guys shut in 2019, there have been a flurry of new businesses opening in the pedestrianised area outside the Broadway Shopping Centre.

Italian restaurant Zizzi, Greggs, and cafe Esquires had already been based in the area, and were joined by cafe Tiffin Grande after the closure of Patisserie Valerie in 2019.

Pizza Express, German Doner Kebab and desert restaurant Haute Dolchi have also opened in recent years.

And in the coming months two new restaurants are due to open near the Broadway.

Chilli Flames will soon open in a unit next to Haute Dolchi, and Patron and Sakku, a 300+ seat steak restaurant, will be opening in a unit between Tiffin Grande and Zizzi later this year.

Established in Massachusetts in the 1950s, Dunkin Donuts has since spread to 46 countries.

The Telegraph & Argus has contacted Dunkin for a comment on the plans, but has yet to receive a response.