OK Diner

OK Diners Limited
IndustryRoadside restaurant chain
FoundedFebruary 1995
FounderCity Centre Restaurants
OwnerLawrie & Daughters Limited
Websitewww.okdiners.com
An OK Diner restaurant in Flintshire (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.[1][2]

As of October 2024, the chain has nine restaurants, and is owned by Lawrie & Daughters Limited, a real estate business.[3]

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.[4]

In September 2001, City Centre Restaurants sold OK Diner to managers Ian Hendry and Dafydd Poole in order to focus on other business interests.[5][6]

In January 2004, OK Diner opened in a former Little Chef in Grantham, Lincolnshire.[7] In the following year, it acquired another former Little Chef in Egginton, Derbyshire.[8]

In July 2014, Dafydd Poole (now known as Dafydd Lawrie) bought out Ian Hendry's stake in the business.[9]

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.[10]

Current locations

As of October 2024, the chain has nine restaurants.[11]

References

  1. ^ "OK Diner". Evening Gazette. Gazette Media Company Limited. 2 May 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  2. ^ Bicknell, Gareth (28 May 2005). "It's OK by name... and OK by nature". Daily Post (Liverpool, England). MGN Ltd. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  3. ^ House, Companies (31 December 2023). "09099341_aa_2024-07-11.pdf"&X-Amz-Signature=edb5a56c3675dae9b73878b3bb7f114d2722a1b2a243186ad51813b36ea55618 "Lawrie & Daughters Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  4. ^ "OK diner attacks roadside market". Caterersearch. Reed Business Information. 26 July 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  5. ^ "Outsourcing is no longer a dirty word". raconteur.net. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Cafe group steps up sale programme". BBC News. 28 March 2001. Retrieved 6 February 2009.
  7. ^ District Council, South Kesteven (13 October 2003). "S03/1349 | Replacement signage | Ok Diner A1 South South Witham". southkesteven.gov.uk. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  8. ^ "The bizarre tea bag policy at this American roadside diner near Derby". Derbyshire Live. 10 March 2018. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  9. ^ House, Companies (3 September 2014). "companies_house_document.pdf"&X-Amz-Signature=98c36aa48b26abc7bc79683b42a6bd3261d255b91ae560bdd1c93d2c58eb7566 "O K Diners Limited". Companies House. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  10. ^ Hughes, Owen; John, Lucy (28 July 2024). "Diner in row over '£265 breakfast' explains why it had to act". Wales Online. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Where we are". OK Diner. Retrieved 2 September 2011.

See also