Popeyes® UK, the renowned American fried chicken eatery, has launched its first ever Drive-Thru restaurant in Rotherham. The grand opening took place at Parkgate Shopping Park on Monday, 15th May, with customers eagerly lining up for a taste of the chain’s famed Chicken Sandwiches.
The inaugural customers were rewarded handsomely, as some fortunate patrons won a year’s worth of free Chicken Sandwiches*. The first 25 vehicles in the drive-thru lane, as well as the first 25 pedestrians in the dine-in queue, were presented with a complimentary Chicken Sandwich and exclusive car-themed Popeyes® UK merchandise.
Elizabeth and Victoria Adeosun, a mother-daughter duo from Rotherham, were the first to use the drive-thru, while Jamie Poon was the first pedestrian to enter the new restaurant. All three arrived as early as 4am to secure their year-long supply of free Chicken Sandwiches.
Victoria, elated with her year-long supply of free Chicken Sandwiches, said, “I’ve dined at the Leicester and London Popeyes® restaurants, so when I learned about the opening of a local branch, I couldn’t resist being one of the first in line. I even convinced my mother, Elizabeth, to join me for the opening.”
Jamie Poon, another winner of the year-long sandwich supply, added, “I came across the competition on Twitter a few months ago, and I’ve been following the updates about the Rotherham opening ever since. I arrived at 4am and I’m thrilled to taste my first ever Popeyes Chicken Sandwich.”
The grand opening was a festive event, with the Brass Funkeys, a Mardi Gras style band known for their performances at Glastonbury and Ronnie Scott’s, setting a celebratory mood. As the doors opened for the first time, attendees were greeted with an orange carpet, hundreds of freebies, and limited-edition car-themed merchandise.
The celebrations continue tomorrow, 16th May, as Popeyes® UK plans to launch its new breakfast menu. The first 25 cars in line at the new drive-thru will be treated to free breakfast muffins to commemorate the inaugural breakfast service, which starts at 8am. The breakfast menu promises a tempting range of dishes, including a hearty breakfast roll, cajun hash browns, and indulgent Nutella-topped buttermilk biscuits.
Neil Williamson, Chief Operating Officer at Popeyes® UK, expressed his excitement: “The enthusiasm for the Rotherham launch has been impressive, with fans queuing up from 4am for our Chicken Sandwich. We’re eager to watch this momentum continue and for more customers to experience the Popeyes® ‘shatter crunch’. We’re also launching our breakfast menu at the Rotherham drive-thru and we’re curious to see how it’s received as breakfast becomes a mainstay at more of our UK restaurants.”
The new Popeyes® UK Rotherham branch, located at Parkgate Shopping Park, Stadium Way, Parkgate, Rotherham, S61 1TG, features both indoor and outdoor seating, a dual-ordering lane to expedite service, and a car park for customers who prefer dining inside the 104-seat restaurant.
In the near future, Popeyes® UK plans to announce the locations of its upcoming drive-thrus, as part of its ambitious expansion strategy to open 20 new sites this year.
*T&Cs: Offer entitles the holder to one free muffin. Choose from a single sausage or bacon, egg & cheese or egg & cheese muffin. Offer valid only on Tuesday 16th May 2023 from 8:00am to 11:00am at Popeyes Rotherham. Offer can only be redeemed once per winner. Non-transferable, not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Over 18s only. Please see T&C’s here.
Publisher of Hospitality and Leisure News, 365 Retail, Retail Source and organiser of the Creative Retail Awards.