OK Diners is to expand its portfolio of US-styled roadside eateries by three a year for the foreseeable future.

The chain, owned and operated by entrepreneurs Ian Hendry and Dafydd Poole, will open its ninth site at Elwick, near Hartlepool, later this month.

Ian Hendry said: “After a period of consolidation, we have seen profitable growth at all our existing sites and we aim to capitalise on that through the considered expansion of our brand.”

Hendry and Poole acquired OK Diners from The Restaurant Group in 2001 and earlier this year made the chain entirely smoke-free.

“Following a successful 12-month trial in our three restaurants on the A1, the decision to ban smoking was easy,” said Hendry. “Our customers voted 10-1 in favour of the ban and the majority of our staff are happier as a result.”

OK Diners was created in 1995 by The Restaurant Group.