PR & Marketing Agency | Twist

Popeyes announces opening date for first North East restaurant

Following openings in Romford, Chelmsford and Stratford – which all saw thousands of fans queuing to get a first taste of its famous menu – US fried chicken giant Popeyes® has today revealed the opening date of its first venue in the North East. From 20th August, the US icon will bring the party to the Metrocentre, marking its fourth British outpost.  

Hungry visitors will be able to get their hands on the iconic menu – including Popeyes’® original Southern biscuits and gravy and the 12-hour marinated chicken that’s a key ingredient in the legendary Chicken Sandwich – giving everyone the chance to experience Popeyes® world-famous ‘shatter crunch’ for themselves. 

In anticipation of queues for the restaurant starting from as early at 9am on Saturday 20th August 2022, Popeyes® will entertain the first visitors to arrive with a live New Orleans style party from 11am. They will also be giving their first 50 customers a free Chicken Sandwich and merchandise, with the first three people in the queue winning the ultimate giveaway of free Chicken Sandwiches for the next year*. 

After the huge success of its debut in November 2021, the team behind the US juggernaut is confident its first Northern restaurant experience will be an even bigger hit than its first UK launch at Stratford, London.  Chicken lovers travelled from all over the UK to sample Popeyes®, with diners showing up from Birmingham, Cambridge, Newcastle and York. Hours-long queues snaked through Westfield Stratford’s food court for weeks on end, with reviews even stating that one guest had waited ‘for 35 years’ to be able to get their hands on the food again. Popeyes® Stratford is now the highest performing restaurant from over 3,700 restaurants globally. 

Neil Williamson, Popeyes® UK Chief Operating Officer and fellow Geordie, told us: “I am super excited to be expanding the Popeyes® brand into the North East. Most global brands that come across to the UK are keen to take over the South first and often don’t consider the North until years later, which is why we always felt it was important to establish Popeyes® up North in the early stages of our UK expansion. 

The North East is an incredible part of the UK with much in common with the brand’s New Orleans roots… fierce local pride; a rich history; appreciation for a good party and above all a big heart. I believe that our legendary menu and Southern hospitality will really win the hearts and tastebuds of the North East.” 

Popeyes® at the Metrocentre is located on the ground floor of the Yellow Mall Qube and will seat up to 98 people with the following opening hours: Monday – Friday 10:30am – 9pm, Saturday 10:30am – 7pm and Sunday 11am – 5pm. 

Ben Cox of Sovereign Centros, Senior Asset Manager for Metrocentre, said: “We are delighted that Popeyes® has chosen the Metrocentre for its first restaurant in the North of England. This is another fantastic addition to our malls and further demonstrates the strength of the leisure and dining offer at the centre, and its popularity with major international brands.”  

Popeyes® believes that the best food takes time. Its chicken is locally sourced and freshly prepared: marinated for at least 12 hours in bold Louisiana seasonings, hand battered and breaded, then cooked to perfection using a proprietary frying process. 

Popeyes® UK is on a mission to open hundreds of sites across the next decade in the UK and has also launched additional delivery kitchens in London which have seen exceptionally high demand.  

With 3,700 restaurants around the world, the UK represents the 11th new market for Popeyes® across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, where the chain has already opened more than 350 new sites as part of its global expansion. 

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