New photos have revealed the condition of a former Pizza Hut in Swindon, left empty and partially demolished as it awaits conversion into a McDonald's drive-thru.
The former Pizza Hut at Shaw Ridge closed suddenly in late January 2025. McDonald's plans to knock down part of the building and convert the rest into a takeaway and drive-thru were approved by Swindon Borough Council in February 2026. Conversion work began in March but has a long way to go.
The photos, taken by urban explorer group Abandoned Echoes, show the site shut off from public view, with large piles of rubble and detritus near a skip, small shipping containers, portaloos, and a solar panel leaning on a stand. Pizza Hut signage and menu instructions remain visible on the walls.
"Standing empty and forgotten, this former Pizza Hut is now little more than a large shell of what was once a busy family restaurant," said a spokesperson for Abandoned Echoes. "It's always interesting to capture these places during the brief period between closure and redevelopment, preserving a piece of local history."
The main building will be gutted of internal walls and made shorter, with a flat roof replacing the current mansard roof. The floor plan shows no seating area, suggesting it may be used only for takeaway and drive-thru. The plan also reduces parking spaces from 45 to 29, which nearby businesses and residents have opposed over traffic concerns.
Source: swindonadvertiser.co.uk
