Thanks in part to fans such as Stormzy, Central Cee and AJ Tracey, Wingstop has found a solid place among Brits’ fast-food favourites since arriving on UK shores in 2018.
The Dallas-born chicken chain has 39 UK outlets right now and, thanks to its ongoing popularity, it’s just revealed plans for 15 new branches this year. Nine of those have already been confirmed, while another six are currently still being negotiated.
Most of the upcoming branches will be in London and among them will be Wingstop’s biggest site to date. A 5000-square-foot, 160-cover spot is in the pipeline for Stratford City Westfield.
Other places set to be blessed with Wingstop’s Buffalo-style wings, tenders and burgers include Bushey in Hertfordshire and West Thurrock in Essex.
Tom Grogan, co-founder of Lemon Pepper Holdings (which is the main franchisee of Wingstop) has projected that 2024 will be the restaurant’s ‘biggest ever year of growth’. That’s after it was named Deliveroo’s restaurant of the year in 2021 and the UK’s fastest-growing restaurant by the Sunday Times in 2023.
The nine locations that have been confirmed are:
- Hounslow (London)
- Clapham High Street (London)
- Watford (London)
- Croydon Valley Retail Park (London)
- Wood Green (London)
- Lakeside Shopping Centre (Essex)
- Westfield Stratford City (London)
- Merry Hill, Bushey (Hertfordshire)
- Leeds (Yorkshire)
Wingstop might have a bit of competition though. Fried chicken rival Popeyes has also confirmed big ambitions for expansion and Chick-fil-A is hoping to open its first British branch by 2025. Plus, KFC is adding even more spots to its already seismic collection of 1,000 UK outlets.
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