Popeyes to launch first UK drive-through restaurant

North American fried chicken chain Popeyes is to open its first UK drive-through restaurant on 15 May.

The 104-cover Rotherham site will bring Popeyes’ UK portfolio to 18 restaurants and is set to feature indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a dual-ordering lane.

The group launched its first UK restaurant a year and a half ago in London’s Stratford, which is said to be Popeyes’ highest performing site.

Typical dishes include the chicken sandwich made from 12-hour marinated chicken; southern biscuits and gravy; and the big breakfast roll.

Speaking to The Caterer last year, Tom Crowley, chief executive of Popeyes UK, revealed the brand had plans to open between five and 10 drive-through locations in 2023.

Commenting on the new opening, Crowley added: “We’re hugely excited to be opening our first drive-through in the UK. This is a critical format for us as we fully recognise the UK is underserved with exciting new brands opening in this space.

“The sustained demand we are seeing for Popeyes throughout the UK is incredible, we are confident that this will only increase with the launch of our drive-through restaurants of which we now have many in the pipeline for 2023 and into 2024.”

Popeyes was founded in New Orleans in 1972 and now has more than 3,700 restaurants globally.