Chick-fil-A to launch first London restaurant
The American fried chicken chain Chick-fil-A is gearing up to open its first London restaurant in Kingston-upon-Thames, marking a significant step in its UK expansion.
The new restaurant will be based inside a former HSBC bank building in the town centre, and marks the chain’s fourth UK outpost, following recent openings in Belfast, Leeds, and Lisburn.
Chick-fil-A first signalled its UK ambitions in late 2023, pledging five initial restaurants within two years and over $100 million in investments over the next decade.
After a controversial 2019 pop-up in Reading that shuttered amid backlash over the company’s historical donations and leadership stances on social issues, the brand has adopted a more community-focused strategy, including local operators and programs like Shared Table for food donations.
Diners can look forward to the full menu staples: the Original Chicken Sandwich, waffle fries, grilled nuggets, fresh lemonade, and signature sauces. True to form, the restaurant will close on Sundays.
An exact opening date hasn’t been officially confirmed, but TimeOut reports that the restaurant will open in early March 2026. Industry watchers are already predicting long queues, similar to the buzz around previous UK launches.
The rollout hasn’t escaped criticism, with ongoing concerns about Chick-fil-A’s past ties to anti-LGBTQ+ causes prompting calls to block openings, including petitions to local councils in Kingston.
