Taco Bell unit at Folkestone, situated at the back end of the amenity building, past all the other food units, opposite customer seating. Taco Bell opened quite recently in Jan 2023. I’m assuming Taco Bell is operated by Caskade, like KFC here, as it’s a sister brand to KFC. The idea of Mexican food being offered at motorway services began with El Mexicana at Extra sites in 2012. This was likely inspired from surge of Asian themed restaurants opening shortly before. Mexican food offerings just help make motorway food courts more cultural & varied. Taco Bell occupies a unit which was vacant for many years. There used to be an EAT outlet next to this unit, but that closed, then the unit was cleared to make way for the new fitness suite. Taco Bell was temporarily closed during my visit. Unsure why, likely a food hygiene issue. It’s a small unit, with just 2 ordering machines & lacking any customer seating of its own. Taco Bell opening at Folkestone is beneficial as it’s a brand growing in popularity, and it’s recognisability will attract more customers off the M20 than a facility like Don Air, which customers will be unfamiliar with. Taco Bell is now, slowly, being introduced to Welcome Break sites & in 2024, a Taco Bell opened at South Mimms. Taco Bell is one of many fast food brands that have operated at Stop24. When the amenity building opened in 2008, it was supplied with McDonald’s, KFC and Burger King, all in a row. Now only KFC remains. Since opening, Wimpy opened here, which was unusual as Wimpy had been removed from all Roadchef sites before then. Hopefully Taco Bell lasts, but the new drive thru McDonald’s opening here is likely to take some trade from this unit. This Taco Bell seems to have similar pricing to that of a high street branch, meaning there’s no motorway inflation, making the brand more attractive for customers. This pic evidences the large interior of Stop24, with lots of natural lighting and high ceilings. Such a shame Folkestone is always so quiet as, if it was more profitable, the amenity building would be cleaner & feel less depressing. Ordinarily, Taco Bell is quiet at Folkestone, but this is due to low custom levels for the site as a whole. It’s typically busier than the independent brands here. Taco Bell is not yet signposted from the M20 in either direction. I would’ve expected Stop24 to signpost Taco Bell, but perhaps they will do it in the future. Taco Bell isn’t advertised at all around the site and isn’t included on the totem pole outside the entrance.

Photo taken on 21/07/2024 by Tom Moon.

Assigned to galleries: Folkestone, Stop 24, Taco Bell, M20