Slim Chickens has announced plans to open a series of drive-throughs across the UK, a move expected to create up to around 1,000 jobs over the next year. The restaurant chain, which opened its first UK outlet in 2018, will launch its inaugural drive-through at Broughton Shopping Park in north Wales on October 6, with the site serving as a blueprint for further locations nationwide.
Expansion plans and job creation
Boparan Restaurant Group, which operates the master franchise for Slim Chickens in the UK and Europe, is seeking to capitalise on growing demand for drive-through fast food and the increasing popularity of fried chicken. Rich Pigott, managing director for Boparan Restaurants, told the Press Association that the group aims to open between 15 and 20 sites across the UK next year, with most adopting the drive-through format.
Each site is expected to employ up to 50 workers, meaning the expansion could create between 800 and 1,000 roles. The move marks an acceleration in openings for the group, which has already launched eight sites in 2026, bringing its UK estate to more than 80.
Drive-through focus and customer demand
Mr Pigott said: “We’ve got ambitious plans for the drive-through format, and Broughton gives us the opportunity to take everything people love about Slim Chickens… and bring it to guests in a completely new way.” He added that it is “only the beginning for Slim Chickens drive-throughs in the UK”.
The drive-throughs will be located at sites such as retail parks, complementing its current presence in high streets and shopping centres. Slim Chickens, founded in Fayetteville, Arkansas, operates a largely drive-through-focused model in the US, a format that is gaining traction in the UK. Mr Pigott noted: “It’s convenient for people to go to a drive-through and take food home.”
Industry challenges and European growth
Speaking on the competitive hospitality market, Mr Pigott said consumers are under pressure from rising energy and fuel costs. “People will reduce their spending habits to reduce their bills,” he said. “But they will still want to go out. People might cut back from going to a restaurant two or three times a week to once a week, so you’ve got to be the best in the market to make sure people come to you.”
Boparan Restaurant Group, which also runs Carluccio’s, Giraffe and Gourmet Burger Kitchen, is planning further expansion across Europe through company-owned sites and franchise partnerships. Tom Patrick, marketing director at Boparan Restaurants, described the UK drive-through launch as a “huge moment for the brand”, adding: “We’re excited to be using our new app and new AI technology to make the guest journey in our drive-through as seamless as in-store.”
