Taco Bell opens new drive-thru in Bradford after VIP event

Taco Bell used a VIP night to warm up its new Bradford drive-thru before the first public customers rolled in, turning the opening into an early test of service, staffing and speed at one of the city’s busiest fast-food spots. The restaurant at Odsal Road in Odsal Top officially opened on Thursday, June 11, after Wednesday evening’s invite-only event gave the new crew a first crack at the pace that will define the site.

The drive-thru is set to trade seven days a week from 10am to 11pm, a schedule that puts pressure on opening-week teams to lock in order accuracy, headset discipline and lane flow from day one. Northgate Fast Food Limited also sought permission to keep the site open until 2am, a sign that late-night trade remains part of the plan if customer demand and licensing allow it.

The Bradford opening brought Taco Bell back to a location with a complicated recent history. The unit replaced the former Dunkin Donuts drive-thru at Odsal Top, next to KFC, after plans for the site were first approved in 2018 for a KFC and a Taco Bell. Those plans were later amended so Dunkin Donuts opened there in 2021, before Taco Bell returned to the same stretch of road.

For workers, the move means a fresh roster and a short runway to settle into the brand’s operating rhythm. Earlier planning papers said the Bradford scheme would create 20 jobs, equal to 12 full-time roles, giving the site a small but meaningful hiring boost in a sector where hours, split shifts and evening cover often decide whether a new store runs smoothly. The opening also adds another Taco Bell option in Bradford, alongside the existing restaurant in Greengates and the chain’s former site in the food court at The Broadway Shopping Centre.

The brand’s return to Odsal Top also came with a local sports tie-in. Bradford Bulls announced a sponsorship partnership with Taco Bell ahead of the opening, and chief executive Jason Hirst said, “We’re delighted to welcome Taco Bell as a partner.” That link gives the new store an immediate local profile, but the real test for the team will be less about branding and more about whether the drive-thru can keep service sharp once the VIP night is over and the regular rush begins.