US chicken chain that’s 'better than KFC and Popeyes' opening 16 new UK sites this year

The archetypal of the caller sites volition unfastened successful Leicester Square, Wembley and Edgeware Road, with much edifice locations opening successful the West Midlands, Swansea, East Midlands, Reading and Newcastle

A fashionable US chicken concatenation dubbed "better than KFC" is acceptable to unfastened 16 marque new sites successful the UK this year.

Slim Chickens - a Southern-inspired chickenhearted concatenation - volition unfastened 2 sites per period for the adjacent 5 months, with the archetypal 2 launching in London this month. The chickenhearted shop concatenation archetypal made its mode crossed the pond to the UK successful 2018 aft launching successful the US authorities of Arkansas successful 2003. Currently, it has implicit 65 sites successful the UK, with restaurants successful Wolverhampton, Leeds, Bournemouth and Belfast. In the states, it has implicit 200.

The archetypal of the caller sites volition open successful Leicester Square, Wembley and Edgeware Road, with much edifice locations opening successful the West Midlands, Swansea, East Midlands, Reading and Newcastle. So far, 11 sites person been confirmed.

Some of the chain's paper items see buttermilk marinated chickenhearted tenders, chickenhearted wings, boneless bites, sandwiches, salads, wraps, fries, and a scope of 14 location dipping sauces. The dipping sauces see bluish cheese, buffalo, cayenne ranch, gravy mayo, chromatic mustard, Korean BBQ, Slim Sauce and a limited-time "Unknown" sauce. The concatenation besides has immoderate breathtaking sides that you won't find successful immoderate different UK nutrient chain. These see fried pickles and Texas toast, which is thickly sliced breadstuff with seasoning.

According to the UK menu, a three-piece tender repast volition acceptable you backmost £10.95, portion a four-piece costs £12.45, a five-piece sits astatine £13.45, and a seven-piece is £14.95. The concatenation besides offers a plant-based version, and the astir costly repast you tin bid is the "best of both" 5 and 5 tender and helping meal, which costs £16.95 and is served with Texas toast, seasoned fries, location sauces and a bottomless brushed drink.

On societal media, fans person raved astir the concatenation implicit the past fewer years. On Instagram, 1 idiosyncratic said the nutrient "looks phenomenal", portion connected Reddit, different said "prefer it implicit KFC". Over connected X, determination were akin sentiments, with 1 idiosyncratic posting: "Slim Chickens is the champion chickenhearted spot I person ever been to and it’s not adjacent close.." Another added: "What is the champion fried chickenhearted franchise and wherefore is it Slim Chickens?" A 3rd said: "Slim chickens is overmuch amended if you privation bully chicken, amended than some KFC and Popeyes imo."

Ben Blore, caput of operations astatine Slim Chickens, said: "We couldn’t beryllium much excited to bring Slim Chickens to these 2 iconic London locations. Our squad has been dedicated to making definite each impermanent experiences our fresh, cooked-to-order chickenhearted and authentic Southern hospitality astatine its finest."

To people the openings, Slim Chickens volition beryllium handing retired thousands of "Golden Tickets" to the archetypal customers astatine the sites, offering a accidental to triumph fantastic rewards, including the expansive prize of Free Slim Chickens for a Year. According to the chain, each summons guarantees a prize, from 10% and 20% discounts connected aboriginal orders to escaped shakes and meals. The nonstop opening dates for the restaurants volition beryllium confirmed successful the coming weeks.

List of 11 Slim Chickens sites confirmed truthful far

• Leicester Square, London
• Wembley Park
• Edgware Road
• West Midlands
• Swansea
• East Mids
• West London
• Reading
• Glasgow
• Edinburgh
• Newcastle