KFC branch in Beaver Road, Ashford, remains open, just weeks after restaurants in Dover, Maidstone and Crayford closed permanently

A fast food chain has debunked rumours that one of its restaurants in Kent is set to close.

The KFC branch on Beaver Road, one of three in Ashford, has been faced with uncertainty after a sign was recently hung in the window.

Customers were informed that the restaurant’s franchisee, Caskade Caterers, had been placed into administration.

Joint administrators were subsequently appointed for the store: Begbies Traynor and FRP Advisory Trading.

Customers were concerned about the future of the restaurant, which has been on Beaver Road for decades.

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Someone said on social media: “As long as I can remember, this has been a KFC.”

Another resident noted, “I must have been there in the 60s. I was the first one I knew.”

“I bought a meal there when it first opened, just to see what it was like.”

However, the establishment has since been taken over by Supercharger Restaurants, an entity controlled by the Adil Group, which still operates the majority of the company’s former franchise restaurants.

A Begbies spokesman said the sale was secured “through a pre-packaged administrative process”.

They explained: “We can confirm the successful sale of 40 outlets previously operated by a single KFC franchisee to Adil Group.

“The sale to the new owners is a positive outcome for the majority of the branches and employees within the portfolio.

“Adil Group has been a successful KFC franchisee for over 20 years and currently operates 73 KFC restaurants in the UK.

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“It will provide the former Caskade KFC locations with a solid financial basis for the future.”

Last month, three KFC branches in Kent closed their doors permanently after Caskade went into administration.

The company’s restaurants in Market Square, Dover, in The Mall in Maidstone and in Roman Way, Crayford, have all closed.

Shortly after their closure, a KFC spokesperson said: “We are continually reviewing our portfolio of over 1,000 restaurants and from time to time we have to close restaurants. A handful of restaurants in Kent have recently closed.

“These restaurants are all located within a few minutes walk or a short drive of an existing KFC restaurant, meaning customers can still buy our famous fried chicken. Check out our website to find the restaurant nearest you.”