Aylesbury is nostalgically famous for it but neighbours Wycombe get Wimpy return

Long-time residents of Aylesbury will surely feel very nostalgic for the days where a trip to the market for your fruit and veg was followed by a Wimpy burger or Bender In A Bun.

As this picture from our archives testifies, the Wimpy building in Aylesbury was quite something for its time, way back in 1974.

Back then independent shops including Sketchley, Finewave and Shergolds loomed large on the retail scene too - a far cry from nowadays when high business rates make life tougher for even established names - and smaller outlets must work harder than ever to survive.

In late 1967 Friars Square shopping centre opened in Aylesbury, after just over two years of construction.

Its first phase was the area we see here which is the open air market together with Lower Friars Square – or, as the locals called it, the underground market. The second phase which included the huge Woolworths store and bus station opened in 1969.

Hovering over the open market was the Cadena Cafe which later became the famous Wimpy.

Aylesbury residents have often hankered for the days of Wimpy. Indeed with some franchises popping up here and there across the country there was always an outside hope it may one day return.

Well the good news is it has returned to a popular Bucks shopping destination. But the bad news for Aylesbury residents is that's not here, but near Eden in neighbouring High Wycombe instead.

A £200,000 investment has brought the much-loved burger brand back to High Wycombe after a break of more than 10 years.

Situated in White Hart Street, close to the town’s Eden Shopping Centre, the new restaurant opened for the first time today (Monday 23 November), serving only takeaways and home delivery orders via Just Eat and Deliveroo due to the current lockdown restrictions.

As soon as restrictions are lifted the team behind the restaurant, which has table service seating for up to 44 diners, say they are looking forward to welcoming diners through their doors.

It is the result of a consortium of four franchisees, who together have several decades of experience of running Wimpy restaurants.

Joint franchisee, Altan Ogretici, who has been involved in Wimpy for more than 20 years and who also runs Wimpys Hertfordshire, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have brought Wimpy back to High Wycombe, we know there are plenty of Wimpy fans in the town and we can’t wait to show off our new look and our fabulous, good value food.

“Our new restaurant is in an excellent town centre location, close to the Eden Shopping Centre and when regulations allow, it makes the perfect place to stop off for a freshly-cooked meal after a trip round the shops or to pop in and meet friends. In the meantime, we’re looking forward to serving Wimpy fans via takeaway and home delivery.”

The last Wimpy restaurant in High Wycombe closed in January 2009.