This is in addition to the Avonmeads site opening this Friday (April 11)
Tom Crowley, CEO of Popeyes UK at the new Bristol restaurant in Avonmeads(Image: Paul Gillis.Reach Plc)
There are plans to open two more Popeyes restaurants in Bristol it has been revealed.
Tom Crowley, UK CEO of popular fried chicken brand, told BristolLive that there are plans to open a site in Clifton, and also a site in Longwell Green in the near future.
There are currently no other details about a specific location or opening date.
The news comes as the food brand, known for making the chicken sandwich that broke the internet and for being loved by celebrities including Kim Kardashian and Beyoncé, is due to open its first restaurant this Friday (April 11).
The restaurant will be opening its doors at Avonmeads Retail Park, and boasts four ‘Park and Serve’ spaces in the car park, seating for 88 people inside, and a menu that also includes New Orleans twists on British breakfast items.
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Mr Crowley, who was born and raised in North Bristol, told BristolLive how, since he first started his role as CEO at Popeyes UK when the New Orleans fried chicken brand made the leap across the pond in 2021, there have been 75 new openings in the country, with the Avonmeads restaurant number 76.
The team have opened 11 restaurants in the UK this year alone, so far.
“We’ll be opening in a location in Clifton, though I can’t say more about that just yet, and also in Longwell Green,” he told BristolLive during a press visit to the new Avonmeads venue on Monday (April 7).
“Bristol has been a key location for us due to the incredible food scene it’s established, and being a fellow Bristolian myself, Bristol is a personal one for me so it’s one that I really want to do well.
“We’re looking forward to serving our New Orleans menu to both local residents and visitors.”
Those looking to visit the Avonmeads restaurant on opening day this Friday could be in with a chance of winning free Popeyes for an entire year if they get there early enough.
The first four people in the queue, as well as the four people parked in the Park and Serve bays on the day, will win the prize.
Popeyes at Avonmeads in Bristol(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
Mr Crowley went on to describe how people can queue for hours when a new Popeyes restaurant opens and they will often have visits from people from New Orleans and other areas of America, who fancy trying something different from a regional Popeyes menu.
The British menu features biscuits with jam, Nutella or honey, among breakfast muffins in the morning, and much much more.
“We had one gentleman that camped out all night in order to be there at the front for when one of our new restaurants opened,” Mr Crowley added. “We had to bring him in early in the end because it was getting cold and we were worried about him!”
Having launched in the UK in November 2021, this year will see the brand move towards its ‘medium term target’ of 350 sites, with the addition of more than 45 new UK restaurants, drive-thrus and delivery kitchens.
Through these new openings, Popeyes is aiming to generate a further 2,500 new jobs in the UK.
Popeyes at Avonmeads in Bristol – inside the restaurant(Image: Paul Gillis/Reach Plc)
The brand, which was founded in 1972 has become famous for its unique New Orleans-style menu featuring its iconic Chicken Sandwich, wings, tenders and traditional biscuits, which are available with Cajun Gravy.
Popeyes uses ‘100 per cent fresh chicken, marinated for 12 hours in the bold and flavourful Cajun seasonings of Louisiana, and hand breaded and battered with Popeyes signature shatter-crunch coating, for an unmistakable New Orleans experience’.