Following success since its launch in November last year Popeyes’ UK operation has started its national rollout – with sites now confirmed across the country in Nottingham, Gateshead, Oxford, Reading, Brighton and Ealing. Popeyes was founded in New Orleans in 1972, and already boasts sites in Stratford, plus delivery kitchens in Bermondsey, Maida Vale, Whitechapel, and more – with two brand new sit-down restaurants in Chelmsford (which just launched, on June 11) and Romford, opening in July.
With Popeyes Stratford now being its highest-performing restaurant in the world – out of 3,600 restaurants – since opening less than half a year ago, the brand has stepped up its expansion plans to meet rapidly growing demand in the UK. Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes UK, said: “From north to south, we’re building communities of chicken lovers across the country. We’re beyond proud to bring our world-famous Louisiana chicken to fans all over the UK, and give them a real taste of Southern US hospitality.
“It’s such an exciting time for the brand, and we have even bigger plans in the works; we’re dedicating a lot of focus currently to our rollout of drive-throughs alongside our strong pipeline of sit-down restaurants.
“Accelerating our UK growth strategy in this way enables us to provide a much-needed jobs boost to the hospitality economy across both construction and hospitality roles. Across these six sites, we’re expecting to provide 600 employment opportunities, and we’re already eyeing our next raft of locations with announcements due imminently.”
The UK represents the 11th new market for Popeyes across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where the chain has already opened hundreds of new sites as part of its global expansion. This year, Popeyes celebrated 50 years since its first restaurant opened in New Orleans.
Full list of upcoming Popeyes UK locations:
Reading, 107-108, Broad St, Reading, RG1 2A
Metrocentre, Metrocentre, Unit 249b Metro Qube, Yellow Mall, Gateshead NE11 9XY
Oxford, 36 – 37 Queen St, Oxford OX1 1ER
Nottingham, 8-10 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 2AD
Ealing, 67 The Broadway, London W5 5JN
Brighton, In-Line, 131-132 North St, Brighton BN1 1RG
Guests eager to learn more about the new openings can follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK, or sign up on the website: www.popeyesuk.com.
