Chicken restaurant chain Popeyes has confirmed plans to open six new restaurants in the UK - with 600 more jobs being created in the process.
The US firm opened its first UK takeaway restaurant in Stratford, London, in November 2021 - which is now its top-performing outlet out of 3,600 around the world.
Popeyes then opened takeaway kitchens in London districts Bermondsey, Maida Vale and Whitechapel.
Essex has a Popeyes sit-down restaurant in Chelmsford, and one will open in Romford in July.
Now Popeyes has unveiled plans to open more full restaurants across the country.
Tom Crowley, chief executive of 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.
"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.”
Full list of upcoming Popeyes UK locations:
- Reading, In-Line, 107-108, Broad St, Reading, RG1 2A
- Metrocentre, In-Line, Metrocentre, Unit 249b Metro Qube, Yellow Mall, Gateshead NE11 9XY
- Oxford, In-Line, 36 – 37 Queen St, Oxford OX1 1ER
- Nottingham, In-Line, 8-10 Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 2AD
- Ealing, In-Line, 67 The Broadway, London W5 5JN
- Brighton, In-Line, 131-132 North St, Brighton BN1 1RG
Popeyes – which first opened in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1972 - previously said it sees Britain as the "next big opportunity”.
The fried chicken chain is owned by Burger King.
Popeyes already has 350 branches in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Overall it has 3,400 restaurants in 25 countries.
The chicken chain's expansion to UK shores follows American burger empire Wendy's - which returned to this country last year.
The popular chain, which shut its last remaining British branch in 1999, now opened a store in Reading last year.
Wendy's is known for its square burgers, and is the third largest burger chain in the world after McDonald's and Burger King.
It already has 6,700 outlets in 30 countries around the world.
Popeyes is aiming to open hundreds of sites in the UK over the next decade across shopping centres, high streets and drive thru locations.
Popeyes diners will be able to get their hands on all the firm's traditional menu items including its famous chicken sandwich and original Southern biscuits and gravy.
An American biscuit is more like what the British would call a savoury scone, and is traditionally served with gravy.
UK customers also get to order the firm's handmade milkshakes, in flavours including biscuit brands Lotus Biscoff and Oreo.
You can see more on the Popeyes full menu here.
