Dozens of people waited eagerly in queues for the opening of the brand new Popeyes restaurant in Nottingham city centre.
Nottingham city centre's newest fast food restaurant opened in the former Burger King restaurant site in Upper Parliament Street on Saturday, October 1. Four
Those at the front of the queue won a prize of receiving free fried chicken for a year from the US chain, which is spreading its wings in the UK.
Friends McKinley Chambers, 18, Alex Kelt, 20, Kuba Okroj, 20, and Tyrone Ezeogu,20, were first through the doors and claimed their prize of free meals for the next 12 months after queening since midnight.
Alex, 20, student from London said: “We’ve been waiting since midnight. The staff have been really nice in the morning they brought us tea and coffee. We have free chicken for a year.”
After trying the food, Tyrone said: “It’s amazing, I got a chicken goujon meal and a spicy chicken burger. The chips are so different to other fast food restaurants.”
Kubra who also had the spicy chicken burger said: “It’s very good. Its feels very good especially when you’re really hungry and don’t have to pay.” He added: “We did the global record for queue time for Popeyes.”
McKinley said: “It was a long wait but it’s really beautiful to finally dig in.”
A live band, The Brass Funkeys, who have performed as Glastonbury and Ronnie Scott's, provided a New Orleans party vibe as the doors were opened.
The first 50 people received a free chicken and a free ‘Day One’ oranges Popeyes T shirt.
Johnny Fangz from Bestwood joined the queue at 5am on Saturday morning. He said: "I’ve never had Popeyes. I had Jollibe and that wasn’t bad so i thought id give Popeyes a try. At 12 o’clock people were here. By the time 6am came along we were all here. About 15 of us, it just got mental later on.”
Ed Fearn arrived at about 7:20am. The 18-year-old said: “I’ve been here since 7.20am. I’ve never had Popeyes before.
“I saw there was a lot of excitement about it and they we’re queuing around the block and I wanted to be apart of the. I wanted to join in on the experience. I’ve met a bunch of mates.”
Head of new store openings and operations of the North for Popeyes, Mannie Sehmar, 46, said:“I think the feedback has been really positive online and people turning up. People were here from midnight."
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