Chicken chain Popeyes to open 30 more UK restaurants in 2024

Popeyes, which has more than 4,000 restaurants globally, first expanded from the US into the UK in late 2021.

Popeyes expanded from the US into the UK in late 2021 (Alamy/PA)

Chicken chain Popeyes has revealed rapid expansion plans to almost double in size this year, in a move which will create around 2,000 jobs.

The brand, best known for its fried chicken sandwiches, said it will open more than 30 new sites across the UK in the next 12 months, including locations such as Birmingham, Aberdeen and Swansea.

Popeyes, which has more than 4,000 restaurants globally, expanded from the US into the UK in late 2021.

The quick service restaurant chain has since grown to include 36 locations, including five drive-thru sites, and employ 2,300 workers.

This week, the company will open new sites in Ilford and Hammersmith in London.

Tom Byng, chief development officer at Popeyes, said: “We opened our first store in November 2021, to huge hype and acclaim, and customer appetite shows no sign of slowing down.

“To date, we’ve opened 38 locations up and down the country, and converted legions of fried chicken fans to Popeyes.

“We’re excited to be giving even more people their first taste of New Orleans as we double our estate in 2024.

“We’re particularly proud of our geographical spread of expansion, including our first ever travel hub restaurant in Waterloo station, which will be fuelling hungry travellers with great food and a dose of the famous New Orleans spirit.”

It comes two weeks after TDR Capital, the private equity firm which part-owns Asda, increased its shareholding to take effective control of Popeyes UK.

Locations for its new restaurants and delivery kitchens also include:

– Bishop Auckland– Exeter– Bury New Road, Greater Manchester– Glasgow Sauchiehall– Aberdeen, Union Street– Nottingham– Swansea– Birmingham– Waterloo station, London