OPEN NOW: Dedicated fans began queuing from 5pm the previous evening at the Newcraighall restaurant to be among the first to enjoy the famous Chicken Sandwich.
Popeyes® UK, the renowned Louisiana Chicken brand, officially opened its Fort Kinnaird restaurant in Newcraighall today, drawing more than 100 eager customers to its launch day queue.
Despite the brisk November weather, fans started gathering as early as 5pm the night before, determined to be among the first to try the brand’s much-loved Chicken Sandwich.
Arriving first on foot were Ossian, Stuart, Owen and Ahmed, while Akash, Daniel, Mark and Daniel were the first to take their places in the Park & Serve bays — all keen to enjoy the venue’s signature dishes as soon as the doors opened.
As expected, the opening brought Popeyes® UK’s signature New Orleans spirit to Fort Kinnaird, complete with exclusive merchandise giveaways and upbeat music to keep the crowd energised.
Ahmed Mohieldin, who was first to secure his place in the queue at 5pm, said: “I came to Popeyes® because no one loves chicken as much as I do – and only Popeyes® do it right.”
Daniel Scott, one of the earliest arrivals in the Park and Serve bay, added: “I decided to come this morning as I’ve been to Popeyes® all over America, and now it’s on my door step. I can’t wait!”
Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes® UK, said: “Fort Kinnaird is an exciting milestone for Popeyes®, marking our eighth restaurant in Scotland. It’s been a fantastic opportunity to bring our Louisiana fried chicken and New Orleans hospitality to even more people in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The response this morning has been incredible, and we’re looking forward to welcoming even more guests through our doors.”
Liam Smith, Centre Director at Fort Kinnaird, said: “It’s fantastic to see Popeyes open its doors today and, as expected, has already proven popular with our visitors!
“With its famous Louisiana chicken and bold flavours, it’s a brilliant addition to our restaurant offering which we know will be a hit for the whole family. We’re always looking to bring in new and exciting brands that our shoppers will love, and Popeyes is a perfect example of that.”
The Fort Kinnaird restaurant will serve the full Popeyes® menu. The lineup includes fan favourites like the iconic Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich, Wings, Tenders and Signature Chicken Wraps. Each piece of Popeyes® famous chicken is marinated for 12 hours in a signature blend of Louisiana herbs and spices, then hand-breaded and battered for that world-famous ‘shatter crunch’.
To find out more about Popeyes® UK Fort Kinnaird, visit the website here or follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK or TikTok at @popeyesuk.