BOSSES at Wendy’s have said the chain will "continue to monitor feedback" after customers were left unimpressed by its cashless system in Colchester.

The restaurant, which opened last week as part of the new Northern Gateway development, saw a large intake of customers as people had their first try of the new fast food chain.

But diners took to social media later on Friday to complain about the restaurant’s inability to take cash payments.

Wendy’s, which also has a drive-thru, operates a card-only system and it meant some customers left the Northern Gateway development empty-handed.

When approached by the Gazette, a spokesman for Wendy’s said the cashless system allowed for more efficient customer service, but added it will continue to listen to customers’ views on the matter.

He said: "The Wendy’s restaurant in Colchester uses a cashless model for faster and easier payment processing.

"We value customer feedback and we'll continue to monitor feedback at this location related to cashless payments."

Wendy’s previously had chains in the UK in the 1980s before they closed in 1999, but in 2021 the restaurant returned to the UK when it opened a store in Reading.

The company then opened its first cashless restaurant in late 2022, and despite the enthusiasm for the new chain in Colchester, moods have been dampened by the card only system.

Hannah Roberts commented on Facebook to say the policy is self-defeating.

She said: “What about if kids wanted to go out with their mates and go for something to eat there, or elderly people who only use post office accounts for their pension and draw it out? 

“They could take a lot of custom away from themselves.”

But one reader said cashless payments are simply a part of modern society.

Tim Simpson said: “Only Luddite dinosaurs will be annoyed at this; Colchester United has been cashless for five years, and Starbucks only accepts cards.

“The vast majority of restaurants, pubs and bars are also the same and the few that do still accept cash will go cashless soon.

“Government plans are to be completely cashless by 2025, they’ve looked at the Scandinavian model – which has been cashless for four years now – and there’s no downside to this.”