A FAST-food chain restaurant which will open on Winchester High Street has finally completed its sign.

For weeks, the unit to be occupied by Nando's had a single "a" in the place of the old Debenhams sign, which was taken down in August.

But now, the chicken chain's full insignia has been put up in gold lettering on a black background, while the interior of the restaurant is well on its way to completion, with the seating already installed.

Nando's will be joined by Five Guys and Pizza Express to form a trio of fast-food restaurants in the large unit, each with the capacity for hundreds of covers.

READ MORE: Nando's signs erected in Winchester Debenhams windows

The completed Nado's sign (Image: Chris Atkinson)Debenhams, a landmark in Winchester for years at unit three on the High Street, closed in 2021, and soon after rumours had it that the above restaurants were moving in. 

Pizza Express was the last of the three to confirm its relocation from its current site on Bridge Street.

While some residents have welcomed the idea of the three restaurants moving in to the High Street, others are not so pleased.

In a comment on the Hampshire Chronicle Facebook page, Paul Ralph said: “Winchester is losing its appeal as a boutique type shopping centre it's now just another junk food and coffee shop tripe high street! Why go there now as it's just BLAH!!!”

This point of view was corroborated by Dee Harper, who added: “I've never been in either place and don't intend to, we really don't need more overpriced eating places in Winchester. We need shops to bring people back into town as it's turning into a ghost town for the normal working-class Wintonian shoppers.”

SEE ALSO: Nando's Winchester planning to serve alcohol into the late evening

Alex James Oliver was more receptive to the news, saying: “Great news! Both are delicious. Also, Winchester doesn’t have a speciality burger restaurant chain. I would also have accepted ’Honest Burger’ and ‘Patty & Bun’.”

Others, such as Johnathan Harmer, are looking forward to the discussion around the restaurants as much as the new fast food places themselves, writing: “I had a sneaky suspicion Nandos would be on the cards given the size of the units.

“Now to sit back and enjoy the outrage…”

The Chronicle has contacted Nando's for comment.