Aviemore Chick-fil-A closes after three months

The controversial ‘pop-up’ of American brand Chick-fil-A at the Macdonald Aviemore hotel has closed after three months.

A petition launched in protest against the opening gathered more than 1,000 signatures last year.

A spokesperson for Chick-fil-A said: "The Chick-fil-A at Macdonald Aviemore Resort officially closed its doors on January 18, 2020 in line with our plan for a temporary pilot licensed location. It has been our pleasure to serve guests at this pilot restaurant for the past several months, and we are grateful to Macdonald hotels for allowing us the opportunity to learn from each and every customer. These insights will help us immensely as we look to having a permanent location in the UK in the future."

Chick-fil-A also opened a site in the Oracle in Reading in October last year, prompting protests from LGBT+ groups that saw the shopping centre block an extension of the fast-food brand's lease beyond the initial six months.

The chicken chain had previously been subject to a boycott in the US following comments made by chief executive Dan Cathy in 2012 regarding same-sex marriage.

Chick-fil-A is one of the largest fast-food chains in the US, with more than 2,400 outlets across 47 states.