US fried chicken chain Popeyes has announced the opening date for its new restaurant in Nottingham city centre. It will welcome customers from 11am on Saturday, October 1.
The fast food restaurant will operate from the former Burger King site, in Upper Parliament Street, right opposite the entrance to Victoria Centre. The burger joint closed during the pandemic in 2020.
Bosses at the chain say they expect queues to start early following previous restaurant openings which saw crowds form for its Chicken Sandwich from 5am. Tom Crowley, chief executive of Popeyes UK, said: “We’re excited to be kicking off our Midlands expansion in the heart of Nottingham – it’s such a thriving, lively city that we’re sure residents and visitors alike will enjoy the Popeyes offering.
“We can’t wait to bring customers a taste of our Famous Louisiana Chicken to Nottingham and beyond very soon.” The restaurant, spread across two floors, will be able to seat 100 people.
The new restaurant, part of the chain's expansion plan across the UK, will serve British chicken, which is marinated for 12 hours and hand-battered with buttermilk for its "famous shatter-crunch". On the opening day merchandise will be given out and a live band will perform.
Thousands of fans turned up for the opening of the first Popeyes in the UK, at Westfield Stratford City in London in November 2021. The chain says it has "big ambitions" over the next 10 years to open hundreds more restaurants in the UK.
The company originated in New Orleans and is famed for its popular Louisiana fried chicken sandwich. The menu also includes its signature chicken on the bone, which comes classic or spicy, tenders, hot wings - plus sides of mash and cajun gravy, buttermilk biscuits and mac 'n' cheese.
Hand spun milkshakes are another speciality and there's ice cream sundaes for dessert. It won't be the only new fried chicken restaurant to have opened nearby. Before Christmas, fans queued for the grand opening of Jollibee, on the corner of Clumber Street and Upper Parliament Street, to try out the chain which originated in the Philippines in 1978. And the restaurant is just down from the KFC in Milton Street.
Popeyes officials have also announced they want to open in Derby and Leicester.
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