Beloved fried chicken shop closes all its UK locations
Korean fried chicken shop chain Chick 'N' Sours has announced the closure of its Haggerston and Seven Dials restaurants in London, having first opened to customers in 2015.
Taking to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news that the 'best chicken shop in the world' was set to close its doors for good, the restaurant's co-founder, David Wolanski, said that the business had tried to hold on for 'as long as we could' but that it was 'no longer viable' to remain open.
The post read: 'Hello, it's with mixed emotions I'm here to tell you that we have closed our Chick 'N Sours restaurants in Seven Dials and Haggerston.
'Sunday night was our last day of trading. We do what we do because we love it, fuelled by passion and a desire to provide guests with awesome food and memorable dining experiences. But that's not enough these days.
'We hung in there as long as we could but I'm afraid we've now reached the point where operating the two restaurants just isn't viable anymore and it makes no commercial sense to continue.'
Declaring that the 'casual dining restaurant model is broken', Mr Wolanski added: 'It's been an incredible journey from when Carl and I came up with the idea of opening the best chicken shop in the world 10 years ago on the back of my scooter.
Taking to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news that the 'best chicken shop in the world' was set to close its doors for good, the restaurant's co-founder, David Wolanski, said that the business had tried to hold on for 'as long as we could' but that it was 'no longer viable' to remain open
'We scraped together what limited funds we had to open Haggerston and go on this wild roller coaster of a trip.'
Opened in 2015 by Mr Wolanski and Carl Clarke and described as 'changing fried chicken for the good', the restaurant was adored by Londoners for its sweet and sour cocktails and high-quality chicken options.
At the height of their success, the chain had four restaurants across the capital, with signature dishes including a Hot Chicken Bun, featuring chicken thighs and house pickles, alongside a Katsu Sandwich filled with curry sauce and Japanese pickle.
Several disappointed fans took to Instagram to share their heartbreak at the shock closure, with one user remarking they were 'absolutely gutted', while another described it as a 'hard pill to swallow'.
One commenter, who said that the beloved chicken shop was a 'special place' that they would miss dearly, said: 'Thank you for everything you've done. Your chicken shop touched my life (and soul) in so many different, unexpected ways. Not a single other place in London did this to me. Thank you'.
Meanwhile, another user, who said they had been a 'loyal customer since day one', added that the business was 'the best there is, no question'.
They added: 'If you guys can't make it work I worry so much for what that means for the industry. Thank you for all the amazing food and memories'.
Opened in 2015 by Mr Wolanski and Carl Clarke and described as 'changing fried chicken for the good', the restaurant was adored by Londoners for its sweet and sour cocktails and high-quality chicken options
While shutting their doors to customers in physical shopfronts, Chick 'N' Sours are still set to continue their residences at the Roof East and Corner Corner food halls.
The popular chicken brand will also continue to serve customers on Deliveroo, while also making appearances at UK festivals and live music events.
Making a desperate plea for customers to remember the importance of investing in independent restaurants, Mr Wolanski added: 'Remember, there are so many awesome independent restaurants out there doing great things but finding it tough out there also.
'We know things are tight for everyone but they need you. Go see them and spend your money with them, as the phrase 'use it or lose it' has never been so relevant.'
It comes as more than 13,000 shops closed their doors for good in 2024 - an increase of 28 per cent on the year before.
And, at the start of the year, industry experts predicted that up to 17,350 shops could close over the course of 2025,
Nevertheless, the demand for fried chicken in the UK continues, with MailOnline revealing last year how Britain's highstreets were becoming overrun with fried chicken joints.
The demand for fried chicken has likely also grown with the influence of social media personalities and celebrity endorsements. Amelia Dimoldenburg's wildly successful Chicken Shop Date series, where she dines with celebrities at local fried chicken shops, is bound to have furthered demand for the already popular fast-food
In south London, a single stretch of road has a staggering 29 fried chicken shops, making it the biggest street in the UK for the fast food item.
With a staggering 12 fried chicken shops within a stretch of just under two miles, Streatham High Road is home to almost every famous chicken shop brand, from Morley's to Chicken Cottage.
And if you were to continue straight down the connecting London Road through to West Croydon, you would be able to spot a further 17 shops selling the fried goods.
In short, this means you will pass a shocking 29 fried chicken shops on the single stretch of road from Streatham Hill to West Croydon without turning left or right, according to the Local Data Company.
That is without accounting for the dozens more chicken shops that lay just off the main road.
Since its first store was founded in Sydenham by Sri Lankan Tamil immigrant Kannalingam Selvendran in 1985, the Morley's brand has grown to become one of the most well-known, with nearly 100 branches across London.
The demand for fried chicken has likely also grown with the influence of social media personalities and celebrity endorsements. Sidemen, the YouTube group popular among teens, sent fans into a frenzy when they opened their own fried chicken chain Sides in 2021.
Meanwhile, Amelia Dimoldenburg's wildly successful Chicken Shop Date series, where she dines with celebrities at local fried chicken shops, is bound to have furthered demand for the already popular fast-food.
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