Leeds city centre was buzzing this morning as Popeyes® UK finally opened its doors on Commercial Street. It’s safe to say Yorkshire folk love their fried chicken—over a hundred eager fans turned up, with some even camping out overnight just to get a taste of the famous Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich.
Minjun Gwak, a student at The University of Leeds, bagged the honour of being the first-ever customer, having queued since 10:50 PM the night before. “Popeyes is the best chicken ever! The Sandwich is world-famous for a reason, so I knew I had to be the first in line!” said Gwak.
Mates Kieran Gibbs and Jack Otobo rocked up at 11:30 PM, hoping to be first, but were beaten to it. “We were trying to work out when to arrive to be the first, but Minjun and Joe beat us to it. Still, this is the best chicken we’ve ever had, and we’ve had a proper laugh!” said Gibbs. The love of Popeyes® even brought strangers together, with four fans making friends in the queue. “We’ve even set up a group chat and are going to meet up once a month for our free Chicken Sandwiches!” Otobo added.
Bringing a bit of New Orleans to Leeds, a live performance from The Brass Funkeys got everyone in the mood for the grand opening, while customers snapped pics in a special ‘bite booth’ to capture their first-ever Popeyes® moment.
The new restaurant serves up all the Popeyes® favourites, including the legendary Chicken Sandwich, Tenders, and Signature Chicken Wraps in Classic, Spicy, and BBQ. Their chicken is halal and marinated for 12 hours before being hand-breaded and battered to get that signature ‘shatter crunch.’
For those who like a bit of sauce with their chicken, the new Saucin’ Boneless and Hot Wings range is now available, smothered in bold flavours like cheesy Garlic Parm, bold BBQ, and spicy Buffalo. And for the early risers, Popeyes® is launching a halal breakfast menu from tomorrow, featuring British classics with a Louisiana twist—think Chicken Brekkie Rolls and Cajun Hash Browns. Plus, there’s a cracking £1.99 Breakfast Meal Deal if you grab it through the Popeyes® UK app.
Tom Crowley, Chief Executive Officer of Popeyes® UK, couldn’t believe the hype. “The response to our Leeds opening has been incredible, with fans lining up well in advance to experience our famous Louisiana chicken. With such a warm welcome from the people of Leeds, we’re looking forward to bringing our famous Louisiana flavours to even more key cities around the UK. We’ll be sharing news about upcoming locations very soon, so stay tuned!” said Crowley.
The new 66-seat, two-floor restaurant has created 80 new jobs in the area and comes with self-service kiosks and collection points for online orders. So, if you fancy a taste of Louisiana, head to 5-6 Commercial Street, Leeds, LS1 6A. Judging by today’s turnout, it looks like Popeyes® is already a hit!
