Plans for Burger King drive-thru at Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre in Gillingham to remain open 24 hours a day have been approved by Medway Council.
The fast-food restaurant opened in June 2022 and has been operating as both a drive-thru and dine-in restaurant ever since, with opening hours between 9am and 10.40pm, from Monday to Saturday, and from 9am to 10pm on Sundays.
In June 2025, plans were submitted to change the opening hours of the drive-thru to make it 24 hours, with adjustments for the dine-in restaurant to be open between 5am to 11pm.
On 4th August, the planning application was approved, with conditions. The licence conditions include additional CCTV to ensure no potential disturbances arise that could impact homes nearby, as well as signage at the site asking customers to leave the area quietly. The toilets will not be open during the extended hours.
The site was recently granted a new licence, which enables the provision of late-night refreshments between 11pm and 5am all week.
When the American fast-food chain first opened three years ago, Medway Council initially refused permission over concerns about the impact on residents, litter and congestion. As things have progressed, the initial fears for residents have been dismissed and now the site will be open all hours.
