A US fried chicken chain wants to open a drive-through at a £30 million mixed-use development in Nottingham.
Popeyes wants to complement its branch in Upper Parliament Street in Nottingham city centre with a second presence in the city at Teal Park, on the east of the city.
The site, off the Colwick Loop Road, in Netherfield, has been jointly developed by Warwickshire-based AC Lloyd Commercial and Nottingham-based Henry Davidson Developments.
The developers have now exchanged contracts with Popeyes for the 2,500 sq ft unit which could contain a 65-seating area, drive-through, car-parking and click and collect bays.
A planning application is currently being prepared and, if successful, work would begin later this year. The business said as many as 100 jobs would be created under plans to start trading next spring.
Popeyes was founded in New Orleans in 1972, and now has more than 4,000 restaurants in the US and around the world.
UK chief executive Tom Crowley said: “The sustained demand we’re seeing for Popeyes is incredible, it’s great to see how enthusiastically the UK has welcomed us, and we’re particularly proud to be opening our first drive-thru locations this year.
“Following the success of our Upper Parliament Street restaurant which landed in autumn 2022, opening a drive-thru location locally was an obvious choice for us. We’re looking forward to expanding our offering in Nottingham.”
Mark Edwards, managing director at AC Lloyd Commercial, said: “Popeyes has continued to grow in popularity across the UK since it opened its first branch in London in 2021.
“They are starting the next stage of their growth plans by introducing drive-thru restaurants and, providing planning is approved, this will become among their first in the UK.
“Teal Park is a thriving mixed-use development with a diverse range of businesses and it would be great to add Popeyes to the site.”
Henry Davidson development director Richard Croft said: “This has been a really successful project which is highlighted by the range of businesses which have opened units as well as the mix of international, national and local companies that are now based here.”
Teal Park is already home to an Aldi, Birds Bakery’s, Pizza Triangle, Valley CiDS charity shop, a care home, and a trade and industrial park.
