Some shoppers are concerned about the opening of a new fast food chain in the city centre, saying there are already too many. American fast food chain Popeyes is opening opposite the Victoria Centre in the former Burger King.
The fast food giant is a US fried chicken chain which had its first UK store open in London in November 2021 and has plans to open as many as 350 locations across the country in the next 10 years. Nottingham city centre has had many new fast food places open recently, including Jollibee’s which is across the road from where Popeyes will be.
Rose Edwards, a student at Nottingham Trent University said: “As a student fast food is really convenient but I know it isn’t healthy and setting up more fast food places isn’t going to help with that. As much as I enjoy takeaways setting up news ones is not going to help me with saving money or eating healthier.”
Read more: What chicken fans can expect when Popeyes opens in Nottingham
Other residents don’t seem bothered by it as they are used to having so many fast food places around, especially near nightclubs and bars.
Leon Sharp, a builder, said: “I’m not bothered by it but there are too many fast food places in this area especially.”
With the government’s strategy for healthy eating being in full swing, including sugar tax and calories on menus, some are questioning if this fast food restaurant a good idea, especially with nationwide worries about an obesity crisis and attempts to encourage healthy eating.
Most local people weren’t aware of the chain coming to the city centre as there is yet to be any construction on the building.
Trinity Taylor who works at a jewellery store in the city centre said: “I didn’t know about it, I’ve never heard of that restaurant before, I wonder what it will be like.”
Popeye's will be selling food such as fried chicken, chicken burgers, wings and many sides such as mash potato, mac and cheese and gravy as well as hand spun milkshakes and ice cream sundaes for dessert. This will be the second store to open in the UK after the success of the London restaurant. It is not known when the store will open.
