Chick-fil-A announces plans to open UK restaurants

Chick-fil-A, a US chain that specialises in chicken sandwiches, said that it will be making a return to the UK after briefly launching a branch in Reading in 2019 and then closing six months later.

There are more than 2,800 restaurants across the United States, Puerto Rico and Canda, and the company announced today (September 14) that it plans to open five “locally owned and operated restaurants” within the first two years from early 2025 in the UK before expanding across the country.

Inside a Chick-fil-A in New York City (Image: Joseph Reaidi)

A spokesperson has not ruled out London as one of the locations and said: “We are currently exploring locations across the whole of the UK and will share further information when we have confirmed sites.”

It’s anticipated that each restaurant will create 80 to 120 new jobs, the chain has said.

Chick-fil-A plans to invest more than $100m in the next 10 years as it expands across the UK.

In its announcement, the chain confirmed that all chicken will be sourced from the UK and Ireland.

Anita Costello, chief international officer at Chick-fil-A, said: “We are excited our restaurants will bring new jobs and opportunities throughout the UK.

“Serving communities is at the heart of everything we do at Chick-fil-A, and our unique local owner-operator model provides one of a kind access to entrepreneurial opportunities."

When Chick-fil-A opened its first UK restaurant in Reading in 2019, it was announced just eight days after the launch that the lease would end after six months due to backlash from LGBT activists.

Gay rights campaigners protested and called for a boycott of the site over the chain’s history of donating to groups it said were anti-LGBT rights.