Popular US fast food chain giving out ‘best' free food next week as it opens third UK site

The Sun

3 days ago

A POPULAR US fast food chain is giving out free food this week as it opens its third UK site.
Dave's Hot Chicken opened its first UK store on London's Shaftesbury Avenue in December, with fans queuing up outside to get their hands on its notorious spicy chicken.
1
Some people have described it as "the best fried chicken on the planet", while it also has a cult following with celebrity fans including Drake and Usher.
The chain is now expanding to other major UK cities, and its newest store in Manchester is set to open in August.
In the lead up to the opening, Dave's is giving away free food from a secret Manchester location next Tuesday, July 29.
Hundreds of Dave's Signature Sliders will be given out for free at the secret pop up.
Some fans have already worked out the location of the pop up, after thousands of Oasis gig-goers spotted posters plastered all over Heaton Park at the band's last Manchester concert on July 20.
The posters read "Call for Hot Chicks on 07986 992770", with people who call the number receiving a voicemail revealing the date and location of the secret event.
The sliders will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, so you'll need to get down there quick if you want to make sure to get your hands on the free food.
Jim Attwood Managing Director of Dave's Hot Chicken UK said: 'Manchester's been asking for Dave's and we couldn't just open quietly.
"Flying a plane over an Oasis gig with a hotline number felt very us.
"This is about giving Mancunians a proper first taste of what Dave's is all about. Big flavour big heat big energy.
COMING SOON: US Fast Food Chains Invade the UK!
"Come down and get involved - just don't hang about once the sliders are gone they're gone.'
Along with it's new Manchester store, Dave's Hot Chicken is set to open seven new locations by the end of the year.
It opened its second branch in Birmingham earlier this year, taking over a site previously operated by ASK Italian.
Steve Holmes, CEO of Azzurri Group, which owns the chain, previously said: "We've had queues at the London site three to four months after opening," he said.
"The volumes are still phenomenal.
"Dave's gave us the opportunity to move into a new segment with a young consumer, a fast growing part of the market, and a different proposition."
Dave's Hot Chicken was founded in 2017 in the US by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and Tommy Rubenyan as a late-night pop-up.
It now has more than 200 sites across America.
The brand is aiming to open as many as 60 venues across the UK and Ireland over the coming years.
HISTORY OF DAVE'S HOT CHICKEN
Dave's Hot Chicken began as a late-night pop-up in a parking lot in 2017, founded by three childhood friends.
At the time, Chef Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan, and Tommy Rubenyan scraped together $900 to launch the venture.
The brand quickly gained popularity, leading to the opening of a brick-and-mortar restaurant in East Hollywood.
In 2019, the founders partnered with Wetzel's Pretzels co-founder Bill Phelps to begin franchising.
The brand has since attracted celebrity investors like Drake, Samuel L. Jackson, and Usher.
It currently operates out of 200 restaurants across the US.
Dave's Hot Chicken has now partnered with Azzurri Group to spearhead its UK rollout.
Azzurri Group is already a major player in the UK hospitality sector.
The owns well-known brands Zizzi, ASK Italian, Coco di Mama, and Boojum.
Azzurri employs over 6,000 staff across 230 restaurants and stores, and it serves more than 15 million meals annually.
Dave's Hot Chicken has plans to open 60 restaurants across the UK and Ireland.
The first restaurant will open on Shaftsbury Avenue on December 7, 2024.
Other US chains in Britain
Dave's Hot Chicken isn't the only American fast food chain expanding to UK shores.
McDonald's rival Wendy's is planning to open 400 locations in Britain, following its return to Britain in 2021 after 20 years.
Wendy's is most famous for its square-shaped hamburgers, which are designed to maximise the amount of meat in every bite.
Popular chicken joint Chick-Fil-A is also set to bring its beloved chicken sandwiches to Britain's high streets next year, with The Sun revealing the exact locations of its first five UK restaurants.
Popeyes entered the UK market in 2021 and has proved to be a hit, with over 38 restaurants now open.
Shake Shack and Wingstop have also opened several sites now across the country.
.