Work has begun on the new flagship Byron hamburger restaurant on the opposite corner of New Street and Ethel Street to Wagamama.

Huddersfield-based Interiors UK have started an initial two-week demolition phase before they will then start to fit out the 206-seat eatery on the site of the old ABC cinema.

The entire project is set to take 13 weeks so it should be open by half-term in October.

The old ABC cinema in New Street
The old ABC cinema in New Street

Although lots of restaurants have been opening on nearby Bennetts Hill and Waterloo Street, including Beefeater Bar+Block, Purecraft Bar & Kitchen, Adams, Viva Brazil!, Bodega Bar & Cantina, Amantia and Cosy Club, New Street’s dining scene is less well developed.

New Street’s restaurants currently include Wagamama, Ask Italian, Bella Italia and an underground Pizza Hut.

The 1,259 seat, single screen Forum (ABC) New Street in its heyday
The 1,259 seat, single screen Forum (ABC) New Street in its heyday

There are also two Costa Coffee shops plus a Pret A Manger, Starbucks and Second Cup Coffee Company.

The hope now is that a high-profile London burger joint planning to stay open all night will breathe some life back in to the city centre site that is just across the street from where the American Food Factory was in the 1980s.

Renowned for its posh burgers, Byron has more than 50 restaurants – mostly in London and non in the West Midlands.

The former ABC Cinema on New Street today
The former ABC Cinema on New Street today

In a licence application which had to be submitted before March 29, 2016, Bryon was asking to supply alcohol from 11am to midnight seven days per week and for late night refreshments from 11pm to 12.30am, Monday to Sunday.

Recorded music and opening hours would be from 11am-12.30am Monday to Sunday.

Rough sleepers have been using the corner of Ethel Street and New Street, where work has now started to create a Byron hamburger restaurant
Rough sleepers have been using the corner of Ethel Street and New Street, where work has now started to create a Byron hamburger restaurant

It also wanted to be able to stay open on New Year’s Eve from the end of permitted hours on New Year’s Eve to the start of permitted hours on New Year’s Day.

The unit formerly housed a Cashino amusement arcade until January 2013 and its corner doorstep has recently been used overnight by rough sleepers.

Who are Byron Hamburgers?

The New Street site of the forthcoming Byron Hamburgers restaurant
The New Street site of the forthcoming Byron Hamburgers restaurant

Inspired by four years in America, founder Tom Byng wanted to make top quality hamburgers in a simple, juicy way.

Tom says: “We take four cuts of properly sourced British beef. We mince it fresh and cook it medium so it’s pink, juicy and succulent."

“We place it in a soft, squishy bun with minimum fuss and fanfare.

“We serve it with a smile in a comfortable environment. And that’s it.”

What’s on a typical menu?

Side view of the site for the Byron Hamburgers restaurant on New Street
Side view of the site for the Byron Hamburgers restaurant on New Street

Unless you request otherwise, each “burger is best ooked medium so it’s pink, juicy and full of flavour.”

Prices range from £6.95 for the Classic 6oz burger with lettuce, tomato, red onion and mayo to £12.50 for a Double Bacon Cheese – two 6oz hamburgers with dry cure badon, “Freddar” cheese, pickles, ketchup and American mustard.

New is the B&A (£12.50), which includes dry cure bacon, guacamole, roasted green bell peppers, “Freddar” cheese, pickled red onions, Byron sauce and shredded iceberg lettuce.

For more information see their website here