Route 59 Cafe sits beside the A59 near Bolton Abbey, between Skipton and Harrogate, making it a natural stopping point for bikers exploring some of North Yorkshire’s best-known roads.

The café has developed a particularly strong following among motorcyclists and currently has a 4.6-star Google rating from more than 950 reviews.

While people do not need to arrive on two wheels, motorcycles are very much part of the character of the place, with bikes regularly lining up outside on busy weekends.

Recent visitors have continued to highlight the welcome.

One first-time customer who arrived by motorcycle in August said staff were “very welcoming, chatty and entertaining” as they sat outside in the sunshine.

They added that they planned to return for breakfast and one of the café’s Tuesday bike nights.

Another visitor described it as their favourite biker café in the UK and singled out the breakfast for praise.

The café serves the sort of straightforward food that has long made roadside biker cafés popular, with breakfasts, bacon sandwiches, hot drinks and other café staples among the draws.

One motorcyclist who stopped for tea and a bacon sandwich described both the food and welcome favourably, saying they had enjoyed “proper tea”.

Its location is a major part of its appeal.

The A59 runs through some of North Yorkshire’s most popular countryside and provides easy access towards Skipton, Bolton Abbey and the Yorkshire Dales.

That makes Route 59 a convenient meeting place before a ride as well as somewhere to stop on the way home.

The outdoor tables also allow visitors to sit with a drink while watching the steady flow of motorcycles arriving and departing.

The café is particularly busy at weekends and around organised motorcycle gatherings.

Current listings show it opening from 9am on Saturdays and Sundays, while Tuesday opening extends into the evening, although customers are advised to check before making a special journey as hours can change.

For many riders, however, Route 59 has become more than simply somewhere to get a coffee.

Its combination of bikes, countryside roads and a traditional roadside café atmosphere has turned it into a destination in its own right.

The UK economy is likely to have shrunk slightly in July due to pressure from weak retail sales and increased energy costs for households, economists have warned.

Experts at Investec and Pantheon Macroeconomics have predicted that the Office for National Statistics will reveal UK GDP fell by 0.1% for the month when it releases the latest growth data on September 11.

It would represent a downbeat start to the leadership of Andy Burnham, who was appointed Prime Minister during the month.

In June, the UK economy grew 0.3% as hospitality and leisure firms received a boost from football fever and the prolonged hot weather.

It meant the economy expanded by 0.4% during the second quarter of the year.

However, economists have predicted that there is now likely to be a correction as stronger-than-expected June activity may have brought forward spending from July.

Investec analysts said: “After a positive first half of the year, where the UK economy actually outperformed the rest of the G7, growing by 1%, we expect the third quarter will begin with a weaker performance.

“Some evidence of this has already been seen in soft retail sales for the month, whilst we expect the rise in household utility bills due to the 13% uplift to the energy price cap would have had a dampening effect.”

Pantheon Macroeconomics’ Robert Wood also pointed to a 0.1% decline for July and predicted that growth in the third quarter will slow to 0.2%.

He said large parts of the services sector are likely to have witnessed declines and drag on the overall performance of the economy.

Retail and wholesale activity is likely to have slid by 0.3% for the month but this will be more than offset “a surge in accommodation and food services output in July” amid a boost from the World Cup and hot weather.

Thomas Pugh, chief economist at RSM UK, added: “Services are likely to have been a tale of two consumers.

“England’s World Cup run should have delivered a strong month for pubs, restaurants and hotels, but a 0.5% fall in retail sales suggests households changed where they spent, rather than opening their wallets wider, spending more money over the bar, but less at the tills.”

As towns in Greater Manchester go, Heywood is one of the biggest. But locals say there is something missing.

The Rochdale borough town has no trams running through, no train stations and a bus service that takes around an hour to get to Manchester city centre. The journey time between Heywood and Manchester is around 30 minutes by car.

So last year, when Andy Burnham announced there would be spades in the ground on the new tram link for Heywood by 2028, there was elation.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) confirmed they are working on a business case for the Heywood project which falls under what TfGM’s Oldham-Rochdale-Heywood-Bury Tram-Train pathfinder scheme.

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The new Metrolink line would connect Bury to Rochdale via Heywood and then loop back through Shaw towards Oldham. However, no plans have been formally approved.

Mr Burnham is now the Prime Minister and his successor as Greater Manchester mayor, Bev Craig, hasn’t mentioned the Heywood Metrolink extension. However, she did speak about the expansion of the tram network to Stockport in her mayoral manifesto.

This is why the MP for Heywood and Middleton is keen to push the agenda regarding the project. Elsie Blundell fears it could get lost amongst the many major projects going on in the city-region.

Mrs Blundell said: “It’s imperative that TfGM stays focused on this link and makes sure that it is delivered on schedule: spades in the ground in 2028, as promised.

“Whether by bus, tram or train, it is unacceptable that Heywood is the only sizeable town in Greater Manchester not to have a quick link into the city centre.”

There have been no changes to the plans announced, with the new GM mayor expected to meet with the Heywood and Middleton North MP in the coming weeks. Currently there has been no suggestion that spades won’t be in the ground by 2028, as promised by Andy Burnham.

Once built, the scheme would give Greater Manchester two Metrolink firsts: The first ‘orbital’ Metrolink route, i.e. one which does not go via the city centre, and the first ‘tram-train’, set to be rolled out across the city in coming years.

Tram-trains are fully electric, using overhead wires like trams for power on some sections of track, and batteries on other stretches. The revamped Bury Interchange will be built to handle tram-trains, trams, and buses, according to a TfGM report.

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The business case for Heywood is expected to be completed in 2026, Burnham announced in August 2025. It formed part of the Greater Manchester Strategy put forward the previous month.

What TfGM have said

A spokesperson for TfGM said: “This is a large and complex scheme and work is still ongoing. There are several key next steps coming up – including timetable modelling with Network Rail, market engagement with vehicle manufacturers, and making space as part of the Bury Interchange Redevelopment for a future third platform.”

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) mayor and local council leaders pledged for 90 per cent of people in the city-region to be within a five-minute walk of a bus or tram that comes at least every 30 minutes by 2030. The idea is to link every borough in Greater Manchester to the Metrolink network, with a long-term plan for major expansion of the Bee Network.

This promise of better connectivity for all in the city-region is why Elsie Blundell is also pushing for the return of the 167 bus service. This ‘express’ bus service would take commuters directly from Heywood into Manchester city centre.

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Currently, the 163 bus starts in Bury, goes through Heywood, Langley and Middleton before going to Manchester. The journey takes around an hour from Heywood.

The re-imagined 167 bus would start in Norden, stopping at Bamford, Heywood and Rhodes before heading into the city centre. Mrs Blundell’s campaign, started almost as soon as she took office in July 2024, pointed out that Heywood’s provision of local bus services wasn’t adequate.

She feels the current provision doesn’t provide the means for commuters to travel swiftly to Manchester City Centre – holding back the potential for local residents to access jobs and opportunities elsewhere in the city-region.

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A massive project like the introduction of a new tram-train line would take years before it is up and running. So a new express bus service would go some way to improving opportunities for the people of Heywood.

Mrs Blundell said previously: “If services improved, including the re-introduction of the 167 service, the vast majority of people who responded said they would use buses more. Given that two thirds also described current services as ‘bad’, it means there is both room for improvement and real interest from passengers to see it happen.

“Improving buses is good for everyone on the road. Reducing traffic and congestion by using the bus to school, work, hospital or the shops, will be good for everyone.

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“When it comes to local bus services the needs of communities in my constituency are not currently being met. We must take this opportunity to press ahead and deliver better bus services for everyone living in our area.”

A volcanic eruption has halted hundreds of flights at Indonesia’s main international airport, stranding tens of thousands of passengers.

Authorities said 209 flights were suspended after ash from Anak Krakatau was detected in airspace near Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday morning.

The volcano had started erupting late on Friday night, generating continuous seismic activity, lava fountains, and booming sounds across surrounding regions. Two more eruptions happened early on Sunday, authorities said.

More than 22,000 people have been impacted by the suspension of flights, which has been extended until 13:30 (0630 GMT).

The transport ministry said the pause in operations mainly affected flights to and from Singapore, also other international routes including Doha, Sydney and Kuala Lumpur.

Authorities have confirmed there is no tsunami warning linked to the recent activity of the volcano, which is in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra.

The health minister has urged residents in affected areas to stay indoors and wear face masks to protect against respiratory, eye, and skin risks.

According to local newspaper Kompas, several schools cancelled activities on Saturday after students and residents reported eye irritations from the ash, while some fishermen had cancelled fishing trips at sea similarly reporting sore eyes.

When Maree Vermont’s Airbnb went up in flames and her body was burnt beyond recognition, her house guest had an unexpected question for police. 

Just hours earlier, Ms Vermont’s home had been gutted by a fire, which Englishman Timothy Loosemore had escaped by being ‘out for a walk to gather firewood’. 

The 62-year-old, from Somerset in the UK, had been staying with Ms Vermont, 60, in one of her spare rooms as her Airbnb guest at her Goldie home, 70km north of Melbourne.

It had been Ms Vermont’s pride and joy. A surveyor by trade, she had meticulously built it with her ex-husband over three decades. 

Loosemore was not just her Airbnb guest though. He had previously been in what the court heard was a ‘casual relationship’ with his host – but wanted it to be more. 

After the blaze, he was taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital, and as he was being treated by medical staff, police arrived to quiz him about the tragedy.

But Loosemore had some questions of his own, and his first was not about the fate of Ms Vermont – but her dog Maxie. 

‘Who’s looking after Maxie?’ Loosemore asked, as captured in footage from the officer’s body-worn camera, and played back in court.

Englishman Timothy Loosemore, 62, from Somerset in the UK, had been staying with Ms Vermont in one of her spare rooms as her Airbnb guest

‘I don’t know,’ the officer replied. ‘Who normally looks after him?’ 

‘Normally Maree,’ Loosemore said. ‘He’s 14 years old so he’s got some dental problems so he’s not a well dog … I suppose Maree’s looking after him?’

It was only then that Loosemore asked: ‘Is Maree all right? Is she?’ 

The court heard Loosemore even expressed more concern for his bicycle than the woman he had killed and may even have burnt alive. 

Pictures from the crime scene reveal a sinister kitchen knife blackened with soot among the charred remains inside the cottage where Ms Vermont died.

Forensics later found DNA traces on Ms Vermont’s blood on Loosemore’s clothes. Everything inside, including Ms Vermont’s body, was burnt beyond recognition. 

Nearby lay fuel canisters he was suspected of using to trigger the fatal blaze. 

Her ornate iron spiral staircase could also be seen lying on the ground, twisted out of shape by the intense heat of the inferno.

Maree Vermont’s Goldie home, 70km north of Melbourne , had been her pride and joy and meticulously built by her with her ex-husband over three decades

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Pictures from the crime scene reveal a sinister kitchen knife blackened with soot among the charred remains inside the cottage where Ms Vermont died 

Nearby lay fuel canisters he was suspected to have used to trigger the fatal blaze 

During a pre-sentence hearing on Thursday, Supreme Court of Victoria Justice Andrew Tinney said Loosemore showed little concern in the hours after Ms Vermont’s death. 

‘His only concern was for himself and his bicycle and his other possessions,’ he said. ‘That struck me as being somewhat unnerving.

‘Here he was, a person who claimed to be innocent, who had been involved in a relationship of sorts with Ms Vermont, and he knew that the house was on fire and that she was inside the house.’ 

The impact of that fire on Ms Vermont’s body made it impossible for forensic experts to determine her cause of death.

As a result, two Supreme Court of Victoria juries were unable to conclude she had been murdered.

Instead, Loosemore will be sentenced on Friday for Ms Vermont’s manslaughter. 

Crown prosecutor Mark Gibson, KC, told the jury Loosemore ‘snapped’ when his pleas for an intimate relationship were repeatedly rejected by Ms Vermont, after an earlier ‘brief sexual dalliance’. 

Mr Gibson said Loosemore violently assaulted Ms Vermont before he covered up the crime by starting the fire.

Her ornate iron spiral staircase could also be seen lying on the ground, twisted out of shape by the intense heat of the inferno 

‘He did something horrific to Maree Vermont,’ he told the court. ‘Something he needed to conceal from the world.

‘That something was him physically attacking Maree inside that house during which he killed Maree Vermont. An attack with murderous intent.’

Ms Vermont’s blood was later found all over Loosemore’s pants and T-shirt, and the jury heard Ms Vermont had fought desperately for her life.

Her body was found face down in the living room, where three kitchen knives were also discovered.

She never left the house despite five easily accessible exits – and even the dog Maxie escaped.

The jury heard the severity of the inferno was consistent with flammable liquid having been spread, with petrol components detected on a mat and blanket in the house.

Moderately evaporated petrol was also found on Loosemore’s clothing and shoes.

‘It’s a very interesting situation. There were those knives there and there is the fact that she bled profusely,’ Justice Tinney noted. 

‘Obviously when she’s close to him because it got on his clothing. 

‘Because he has never told the truth about what occurred, the mechanism of the actual death will remain unclear to everyone other than Mr Loosemore.’

Timothy Loosemore, 62, appeared in the Supreme Court of Victoria for a pre-sentence hearing on Thursday. He was spotted carrying a bible

Maree Vermont had rejected Loosemore’s repeated advances 

The DNA blood evidence was not shown to the first jury – which deliberated its verdict for three weeks before they were discharged – because of a ‘workload issue’ at Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine.

The second jury heard Loosemore’s lucid recollections of what happened that night in the hours immediately after the fire.

But the court also heard he later suffered near-total amnesia when questioned by Homicide Squad detectives and forensic doctors. 

In the aftermath of the fire, Loosemore gave several accounts of events in conversations with neighbours, paramedics, police and a doctor. 

He told them he had briefly left the house and returned to find it ablaze.

He told neighbour Peter Greenham he had a ‘small argument’ with Ms Vermont, that he went outside to get some wood, and when he came back the fire was too hot to handle. 

Another neighbour, Kynan Share, was given a similar story before Loosemore added: ‘When I’ve come back, the whole place went up.’

But he claimed to another neighbour he had been upstairs asleep, got up to put wood on the fire, and found the house fully alight on his return.

Defence barrister Christopher Farrington told the court Loosemore had been consistent that he had ‘no memory of what took place’, which is why he took no responsibility or showed remorse.

‘Isn’t it all much more consistent with a person who has simply been refusing to tell the truth about what occurred?’ the judge asked Mr Farrington.

Crime scene photos show the devastation left by the fire on Ms Vermont’s cherished home 

Mr Farrington told the court Loosemore was born in Somerset in the United Kingdom and raised in a small rural farming community.

He worked in road construction before establishing his own civil construction business, which operated for about 11 years and at times involved more than 40 workers on roads and bridges. 

Changes in UK employment law led to the business being wound up and he later worked as a sole operator.

The court heard Loosemore had been married twice, with three children from his second marriage, who now live in the UK.

The family lived in Western Australia around 2004-2007 and became Australian citizens before later returning to the UK. 

Loosemore had not been in full-time employment since about 2004, living off investments from the sale of his successful business.

In September 2022, he returned to Australia with his son for a cycling trip around the country. 

After his son left, Loosemore continued alone, staying at farmstay properties where he performed work in exchange for board and food, and Ms Vermont’s property was one of those.

The court heard he had no prior criminal history and people who knew him before the incident, including some of Ms Vermont’s friends and family, described him as polite, calm and helpful. 

On Thursday, Ms Vermont’s loved ones packed the court to confront Loosemore and express the impact his actions had on their lives. 

Outside court, her three sons described their mother as a very peaceful, loving and caring person.

‘It’s a very hard day,’ Darcy Vermont told reporters.

‘But it’s bringing some sense of closure to be able to get up in court and have our voices heard.’

New Zealand captain Ardie Savea has been ruled out of the fourth Test against South Africa with a shoulder injury.

Savea was forced off just half-an-hour in to the third Test in Johannesburg after coming up in serious pain following a clearout from Jasper Wiese.

The No 8 struggled to hold his right arm up and was pictured in a sling after a 29-24 defeat.

Savea had scored twice in an excellent start to the game, and his absence is a major blow to Dave Rennie as the All Blacks seek to draw the series with victory in Baltimore next Saturday.

“Yes, [it’s a] shoulder injury,” Rennie confirmed. “Not sure if it’s dislocated, but he certainly won’t be travelling to the States.

“Oh, yeah, I think he [Savea] was massive, wasn’t he? But you know, Wallace Sititi came on and played well.”

Outside centre Quinn Tupaea is also a doubt for that game with a knee injury. Rennie suggested that the Chiefs midfielder could have MCL damage, though will require further investigation.

The two sides conclude their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry itinerary with the fourth Test at M&T Bank Stadium, the home of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, on Saturday evening.

The Community Reablement and Support Team West, based in Western Road, Kilmarnock, was graded ‘very good’.

An Ayrshire-based housing support and care at home service has been praised following an unannounced spot check by the Care Inspectorate.

The Community Reablement and Support Team West, based in Western Road, Kilmarnock, was graded ‘very good’ across the quality indicator relating to supporting people’s wellbeing.

It follows an unannounced visit to the service in August with the findings now published.

Among the key messages the Care Inspectorate said the care and support from CREST had made a “positive difference” to peoples health and well-being.

And people told inspectors that they were “very happy” with the support they received.

In addition, staff cared for people with “kindness and compassion.”

The positives continued; staff also told inspectors that they enjoyed their role and felt “well supported” by managers.

And leaders knew the strengths and areas for development of the service well and used “effective quality assurance” to drive good practice.

Community Reablement and Support Team (CREST) West is registered to provide a combined housing support and care at home service to adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health conditions and other additional needs in East Ayrshire. The service is provided by East Ayrshire Council.

An extract from the Care Inspectorate report said: “We found significant strengths in aspects of the care provided and how these supported positive outcomes for people.

“People experienced care and support that promoted their health and wellbeing because staff demonstrated a clear understanding of their role in identifying and responding to changes in health needs.”

The report continues: “During the inspection, staff and managers showed how they recognised changes promptly and shared information with the appropriate professionals. This ensured people received timely support, which reduced the risk of deterioration and supported more stable health outcomes. As a result, people benefited from coordinated and responsive care that positively impacted both their physical and emotional wellbeing.”

Medication systems were found to be “safe and well-managed” overall, with “clear documentation, regular audits, and competent staff practice,” according to the report. And staff were “confident in their roles,” and people reported feeling “assured” that their medication was managed safely.

The report goes on: “This contributed to people experiencing consistent and safe treatment, reducing the likelihood of errors and supporting positive health outcomes. This demonstrated that safeguards were effective and risks were well alleviated.”

The report adds: “Overall, the service demonstrated significant strengths in supporting people’s health and wellbeing. The skilled and passionate teams of staff and managers provided consistently positive outcomes, where peoples choices, wishes and preferences were met.”

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Bryce Underwood watched his pass sail out of bounds, and he thought he knew what that meant for No. 16 Michigan.

“I definitely thought the game was over because there were zeroes on the clock,” he said.

So did Western Michigan. So did a lot of people watching.

Given a second chance by a disputed replay decision, Underwood and the Wolverines took advantage. JJ Buchanan pulled in Underwood’s 47-yard, second-chance miracle heave for a game-ending, game-winning touchdown, and Michigan escaped with a 13-12 win over the Broncos on Saturday night in coach Kyle Whittingham’s debut.

On what seemed to be the final play of the game, Underwood chucked a Hail Mary pass that sailed beyond the end zone and into the arms of a Broncos defender. TV replays appeared to show the clock hitting zero with the ball still in the air, but officials ruled there was a second still to play.

The Big Ten stood by the review in a statement released two hours after the game, when it also published a recording of the replay as it was reviewed by the officials that showed the game clock at 1 second when the ball was touched by WMU’s Micah Davis.

“It was determined Western Michigan No. 18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock,” the conference said, citing rule that stops the clock on such contact.

Mid-American Conference Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said the conference and school contacted the Big Ten office, seeking clarification on the review and was provided with an explanation along with video and audio that confirmed it. Steinbrecher thanked the Big Ten for its prompt response.

The call gave Michigan new life.

Indeed, Michigan fans were already having flashbacks to a season-opening loss to Appalachian State in 2007, when the Wolverines faltered as 33-point favorites. They were projected to win by 27 1/2 points over the Broncos but had to experience momentarily watching WMU celebrate the victory at Michigan Stadium before the replay decision made the winning score possible.

Michigan fans stormed the field after the win, but the team was hardly in the mood for a party.

“Sick to my stomach is the way I explain my feelings about that game,” defensive end Dom Nichols said.

Whittingham said he thought there was a second left on the clock, while Broncos coach Lance Taylor said he hadn’t seen a replay before speaking to reporters.

Underwood took advantage of another chance to win the game, and redeem himself from a poor performance, with Buchanan leaping to snag the football and coming down with it in the end zone.

“We practiced it three or four times over the last month,” said Underwood, who added it was “a blessing” to have another second put back on the clock.

Whittingham was hired to stabilize a program reeling after the firing and arrest of Sherrone Moore, who held the job for just two seasons following Jim Harbaugh’s tenure that included a 2023 national title along with a spying scandal and NCAA sanctions for recruiting violations.

There hasn’t been much drama off the field, but this was hardly an encouraging start on it.

“That was a moment we don’t really want to be living,” Nichols said.

Michigan will have to improve quickly to compete next week with No. 10 Oklahoma at home.

“If we don’t play a lot better, it’s not going to be pretty,” Whittingham said.

___

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Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has made his intentions for the season clear despite a minor change from his last spell at Old Trafford

Marcus Rashford has boldly stated “new number, same mission” in a social media message after becoming Manchester United’s new No.9. The England international previously wore the No.10 on his back, but that has been occupied by Matheus Cunha, who arrived during Rashford’s loan spell away from the club.

Both attackers were named in Michael Carrick’s starting XI last weekend against Ipswich Town, the first time in over 18 months that Rashford was deployed from the off for United. He is yet to grab a direct goal contribution since returning, but has impressed Carrick.

Speaking after last Sunday’s win, he said: “I think the situation that we’re in, I think the business that we’ve managed to do, I’m pleased with. I think we’re a better group, a better squad, potentially a better team. Adding Marcus (Rashford) into that feels like a new signing. So, in that respect, we’re quite happy.”

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Goals and assists have followed Rashford wherever he has gone and that is unlikely to change this season with the 28-year-old focused on exactly that and more trophies despite his small change.

Writing on Instagram, alongside a number of images, Rashford said: “New number, same mission.” United captain Bruno Fernandes is among the United players to have liked the post.

The 31-year-old inspired his side to their first win of the season by scoring a hat-trick, with Bryan Mbeumo and a Jacob Greaves own goal seeing United hit five.

Rashford was on the pitch for 80 minutes but failed to get in on the action and he will want to change that swiftly given the competition for places in attack. Amad’s injury and Benjamin Sesko still getting back to full fitness helps Rashford’s gametime in the short-term, however.

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Patrick Dorgu replaced him late on at Old Trafford against Ipswich, but Rashford is expected to retain his place in the team for Sunday’s trip to Everton.

David Moyes is an attacker down for the game with Iliman Ndiaye leaving on the final day of the window to join Manchester City. The Toffees also failed to sign Folarin Balogun and United outcast Joshua Zirkzee on deadline day.

United meanwhile, looked set for a quiet final 12 hours of trading only for a last-ditch pursuit of Rayan Ait-Nouri from Man City to take place. However, Carrick’s side failed to get a deal over the line and subsequently failed to sign a new left-back as competition for Luke Shaw.

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The fast-food giant shared a video on Facebook on September 3, telling customers: “A new store is opening in Faverdale, Darlington. Opening date coming soon.”

The post has sparked fresh excitement over the new restaurant on Faverdale Industrial Estate, which has been under construction since March 2025.

However, an official opening date has not yet been confirmed and said a date will be announced soon.

The site was originally expected to open in December 2025, but that deadline was missed as work continued.

An opening in early 2026 was then suggested before McDonald’s later said the restaurant was expected to open in late summer 2026.

A McDonald’s spokesperson previously said: “We’re looking forward to opening our new restaurant in Darlington, due to open in late summer 2026.

“The restaurant will bring significant investment to the local area and deliver up to 120 full and part-time jobs.”

The Faverdale restaurant is expected to become McDonald’s third branch in Darlington.

The wider development has been in the pipeline for several years. Plans were initially deferred by Darlington Borough Council’s planning committee in July 2023 amid concerns over the potential impact on existing businesses and jobs, before being approved the following month.

Earlier plans for the site included McDonald’s, Costa Coffee and Taco Bell, as well as additional retail units and an industrial unit.

Costa Coffee is still due to open a drive through branch at Faverdale. Taco Bell, however, is no longer expected to be part of the scheme after developers Metcalf Harland Property Investment said the chain did not sign a lease.

A new Taco Bell site has recently opened on 3 Albert Road, at the former KFC site on North Road.

McDonald’s has now told customers to watch out for an opening date announcement.