CANADIAN fast-food chain Tim Hortons is set to open its first Somerset restaurant and drive-thru on Thursday – and the County Gazette had the opportunity to see inside before its official launch.

The new store, located at Weston Links in Weston-super-Mare, will open its doors to the public at 7am on Thursday, February 17.

The first 100 customers to arrive at the new restaurant will receive a free breakfast meal, which includes a main breakfast item, a hash brown, and a small hot drink or orange juice.

The very first people in the queue for the drive-thru and restaurant will receive free drinks for 365 days – a prize worth around £3,100.

The menu will feature the company’s best-selling items, including Timbits, Iced Capps, freshly-baked doughnuts, Tim’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich, hot dogs, and lattice fries.

Ahead of opening day, Kevin Hydes, chief commercial officer of the Tim Hortons franchise in the UK, said: "We can’t wait. We’ve been in the process of construction for the last couple of months here in Weston-super-Mare.

"We’ve built a fantastic restaurant, a really lovely environment for guests to come and enjoy.

"We’re really excited to be welcoming people from this region. It’s the first one in Somerset, and probably the furthest western site that we have.

"We’ve got lots of fans in the area, there’s been a lot of noise about Tim Hortons coming to town, so we expect there to be a lot of demand when we first open on Thursday morning."

Somerset County Gazette: NEW STORE: Chief commercial officer Kevin Hydes expects high demand when Tim Hortons opens in Weston-super-Mare on ThursdayNEW STORE: Chief commercial officer Kevin Hydes expects high demand when Tim Hortons opens in Weston-super-Mare on Thursday

If the Weston-super-Mare site performs well, the franchise will consider opening more stores in Somerset.

“We’d like to be open in other places as well in the area, and it will certainly be interesting to see how this one does and then, hopefully, we’ll be opening more restaurants in the future,” said Kevin.

“Where we’ve been opening restaurants across the UK, we’ve often opened a single site in a new area.

"When they’ve been really successful, we’ve opened additional sites to satisfy the demand level.”

GALLERY: Tim Hortons in Weston-super-Mare

Somerset County Gazette: DOUGHNUTS: The freshly-baked goods are a hit among customers at Tim Hortons' existing storesDOUGHNUTS: The freshly-baked goods are a hit among customers at Tim Hortons' existing stores

Somerset County Gazette: DRIVE-THRU: People will be able to purchase food, sweet treats and hot drinks without leaving their vehiclesDRIVE-THRU: People will be able to purchase food, sweet treats and hot drinks without leaving their vehicles

Somerset County Gazette: CANADA'S FAVOURITE: Tim Hortons will be in competition with a nearby McDonald's restaurant and drive-thru at Weston LinksCANADA'S FAVOURITE: Tim Hortons will be in competition with a nearby McDonald's restaurant and drive-thru at Weston Links

Somerset County Gazette: ORDER HERE: The store has self-service points or the option of ordering from a member of staff ORDER HERE: The store has self-service points or the option of ordering from a member of staff

Somerset County Gazette: MENU: Meals, hot drinks, cold drinks, and doughnuts are available at Tim HortonsMENU: Meals, hot drinks, cold drinks, and doughnuts are available at Tim Hortons

Somerset County Gazette: CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER: Kevin Hydes says the company "can't wait" to welcome its first customers in Weston-super-Mare CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER: Kevin Hydes says the company "can't wait" to welcome its first customers in Weston-super-Mare

Somerset County Gazette: SEATING: There are upstairs, downstairs, and ground floor tables at the new storeSEATING: There are upstairs, downstairs, and ground floor tables at the new store

Somerset County Gazette: OPENING SOON: The new store will welcome its first customers at 7am on Thursday, February 17OPENING SOON: The new store will welcome its first customers at 7am on Thursday, February 17

Somerset County Gazette: BREAKFAST: The first 100 customers to arrive at Tim Hortons will receive a free breakfastBREAKFAST: The first 100 customers to arrive at Tim Hortons will receive a free breakfast

Somerset County Gazette: FRESHLY BAKED: Assorted and deluxe boxes of Tim Horton's doughnutsFRESHLY BAKED: Assorted and deluxe boxes of Tim Horton's doughnuts

Somerset County Gazette: TIMBITS: Tim Hortons' bite-sized doughnutsTIMBITS: Tim Hortons' bite-sized doughnuts

Somerset County Gazette: TABLES: The restaurant has additional seating just below the ground floorTABLES: The restaurant has additional seating just below the ground floor

Somerset County Gazette: UPSTAIRS: There is additional seating at the top of a small flight of stairsUPSTAIRS: There is additional seating at the top of a small flight of stairs

Somerset County Gazette: SERVICE: Customers receive an order number, which appears on the screen once their food and drinks are ready to goSERVICE: Customers receive an order number, which appears on the screen once their food and drinks are ready to go

Somerset County Gazette: BRIGHT: The main seating area at the new Tim Hortons in Weston-super-MareBRIGHT: The main seating area at the new Tim Hortons in Weston-super-Mare