OK Diner
{{Short description|British restaurant chain}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = OK Diners Limited
| logo = OK Diner logo.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| industry = Roadside restaurant chain
| foundation = February 1995
| founder = City Centre Restaurants
| owner = Lawrie & Daughters Limited
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.okdiners.com}}
}}
File:OK Diner - geograph.org.uk - 1716426.jpg (February 2010)]]
OK Diners Limited (trading as OK Diner) is a British chain of roadside restaurants founded in February 1995 by City Centre Restaurants. The chain has a retro American diner theme with 1950s music, chequerboard flooring, booth seating, chrome details and memorabilia on display.{{cite news |date=2 May 2008 |title=OK Diner |url=http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/whats-on/restaurant-reviews/2008/05/02/ok-diner-84229-20849577/ |access-date=6 February 2009 |work=Evening Gazette |publisher=Gazette Media Company Limited}}{{cite news |last=Bicknell |first=Gareth |date=28 May 2005 |title=It's OK by name... and OK by nature |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-132825061 |access-date=6 February 2009 |work=Daily Post (Liverpool, England) |publisher=MGN Ltd}}
History
In February 1995, OK Diner was created by John Roebuck and Tony Horsfall to be part of City Centre Restaurants, who also owned the Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito brands at the time.{{cite news |date=26 July 2001 |title=OK diner attacks roadside market |url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2001/07/26/24918/ok-diner-attacks-roadside-market.html |access-date=6 February 2009 |work=Caterersearch |publisher=Reed Business Information}}
In September 2001, City Centre Restaurants sold OK Diner to managers Ian Hendry and Dafydd Poole in order to focus on other business interests.{{cite web |date=10 December 2015 |title=Outsourcing is no longer a dirty word |url=https://www.raconteur.net/outsourcing-is-no-longer-a-dirty-word/ |access-date=19 February 2021 |website=raconteur.net}}{{cite news |date=28 March 2001 |title=Cafe group steps up sale programme |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1247218.stm |access-date=6 February 2009 |work=BBC News}}
In January 2004, OK Diner opened in a former Little Chef in Grantham, Lincolnshire.{{Cite web |last=District Council |first=South Kesteven |date=13 October 2003 |title=S03/1349 {{!}} Replacement signage {{!}} Ok Diner A1 South South Witham |url=https://prod.publicaccess.southkesteven.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=ZZZXYJONXE424&activeTab=summary |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=southkesteven.gov.uk}} In the following year, it acquired another former Little Chef in Egginton, Derbyshire.{{Cite news |date=2018-03-10 |title=The bizarre tea bag policy at this American roadside diner near Derby |url=https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink/ok-diner-a38-egginton-review-1314544 |access-date=2024-10-28 |work=Derbyshire Live |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}
In July 2024, OK Diner faced criticism at its Northop Hall restaurant for issuing parking fines to diners. Dafydd Lawrie explained that the restrictions were necessary due to the parking area being misused by visitors accessing nearby services. He added that diners who had contacted their head offices had their fines canceled.{{Cite web |last1=Hughes |first1=Owen |last2=John |first2=Lucy |date=2024-07-28 |title=Diner in row over '£265 breakfast' explains why it had to act |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/diner-centre-row-over-265-29626961 |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}
Current locations
As of October 2024, the chain has nine restaurants.{{cite web|url=http://www.okdiners.com/our-diners |title=Where we are |publisher=OK Diner|access-date=2 September 2011}}
- A1 Northbound – Carlton-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire
- A1 Southbound – New Fox, Colsterworth, Lincolnshire
- A1 Northbound – Tickencote, Rutland
- A5 – Cannock, Staffordshire
- A19 Services Southbound – Elwick, County Durham
- A38 Southbound – Egginton, Derbyshire
- A49 – Leominster, Herefordshire
- A55 Gateway Services – Northop Hall, Flintshire
- Mile End Roundabout, Oswestry, Shropshire
References
{{reflist|30em}}
See also
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.okdiners.com/}}
- {{Commons category inline|OK Diner}}
{{UK Food}}