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From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk
By Alex Langridge, 11 December 2025.
Work under way at former Woodlands Beefeater in Wrotham Road,
Gravesend, with rumours it could become a McDonald’s.
The future use of a former Beefeater restaurant remains a mystery
despite the appearance of workers ripping out its interior.
Temporary fencing has gone up around The Woodlands in Gravesend,
while skips have been put outside and filled with old fittings and
debris.
The Woodlands Beefeater closed last year.
Employees from Bromley-based firm Galamast have been working at the
Wrotham Road venue, sparking rumours the eatery could be turned into
a McDonald’s.
The company says on its website that it has long-standing
relationship with the global chain and has refurbished “a large
proportion of the McDonald’s estate” in the last three years.
However, a spokeswoman for Galamast said it had been hired just to
strip out the building and has not been told what will be going into
it.
KentOnline has asked McDonald’s several times over the past few
months if it has any interest in the premises but has not received a
response.
There has also been speculation the former restaurant has been
bought by Mitchells and Butlers and could become a Miller and Carter
Steakhouse.
KentOnline approached Mitchells and Butlers but a spokesman said he
was not aware of any plans for the building.
Railings and skips have been placed around the building.
Ward councillor for Woodlands, Cllr David Beattie, said he had
received several emails from concerned residents over the rumours of
converting the building into a fast-food restaurant.
He added: “The big concern is if it will have a drive-thru, but that
would then have to go through a planning application, and nothing
has come to the council so far.
“Some residents are saying we do not need a third McDonald’s in the
town. Logistically, it would be a bigger unit and easier for
deliveries.
“I am not saying I want it to happen, but I can see why they could
be doing it. It would make sense for them.”
Cllr Beattie, who has also visited the site since the works started,
admitted he was yet to find out what will become of the building.
There are rumours that it will be converted into a McDonald’s.
A Gravesham council spokesman said the authority’s planning
enforcement team had been in contact with the new owner and
leaseholder of the venue.
He also confirmed the works taking place were limited to an internal
strip out, which did not require planning permission.
He added: “To date, we have not received any planning applications
for the site, but the owners and leaseholders are fully aware that
any change of use of the building, new signage or new ventilation,
etc, would require an application.”
The Woodlands was closed to the public in July last year and was
only open for Premier Inn guests before it was sold.
At the end of last April, Whitbread announced it was to slash its
chain of restaurants by around 200 in favour of building more hotel
rooms.
The firm also planned to cut about 1,500 jobs across the country
from its total UK workforce of 37,000 employees.
It said the move was part of a plan to “optimise” its food and drink
offering, to add more than 3,500 hotel rooms across its estate and
increase “operational efficiencies”.
Whitbread said it planned to sell 126 of its branded restaurants,
while converting 112 less profitable eateries into new hotel rooms. |
