14 February 2023 , 11:21
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Popeyes is opening seven new restaurants including its first-ever drive-thru site as it continues its UK expansion.
It means the fried chicken chain is on track to open 20 new sites in total in 2023.
The first new restaurant will open in Cambridge on February 16, followed by Reading on February 23 and Cardiff in late March.
Popeyes told The Mirror it hasn't announced launch dates yet for its other new openings.
The new drive-thru will be located in Rotherham, in a site that was formerly occupied by rival KFC.
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You can see a full list of the new locations below.
Popeyes currently has 17 restaurants and delivery kitchens in the UK after making its grand return in November 2021 with the opening of its Westfield shopping centre site in Stratford, east London.
The US chain – which first opened in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1972 - previously said it sees Britain as its "next big opportunity”.
It's famed for its chicken sandwiches, with its secret recipe including marinating chicken for 12 hours in locally-inspired seasonings.
Here's what happened when The Mirror visited Popeyes.
Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes UK, said: “The sustained demand we’re seeing for Popeyes in the UK is incredible, but not unexpected – Popeyes is a cult brand with a huge following in the US and has supplied food for everything from celebrity weddings to the Met Gala.
“That said, it’s still brilliant to see how enthusiastically the UK has welcomed us, and we’re particularly proud to be opening our first drive-thru locations this year.
“Now that we’ve established a growing presence here, we’re excited to start turning our attention towards building an industry-leading employee value proposition for our UK teams and identifying where we can make a difference in the communities we’re part of.
“That’s always been the Popeyes way.”
Full list of new UK Popeyes restaurants
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Cambridge (opening February 16)
Reading (opening February 23)
Cardiff (late March)
Plymouth
Richmond
Rotherham (drive-thru)
Barrhead
As well as the seven new sites announced today, Popeyes has also opened another dark kitchen in Norbury.
Popeyes is owned by Restaurant Brands International, which also owns Burger King, and it already has 350 branches in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
It comes after Wendy's returned to the UK after disappearing from the high street 21 years ago.