US fast food chain Chick-fil-A has announced plans to open its first drive-through restaurant in the UK. The new location will be in Glasgow, taking over a former KFC site at Hamilton's Palace Grounds Retail Park.
Investment and refurbishment
The chain plans to invest nearly £75 million in the UK over the next 10 years. The refurbishment of the Glasgow site will include a rear extension and a complete overhaul of the exterior. The restaurant will have space for more than 60 diners inside, as well as outdoor seating and improved parking facilities.
Closed on Sundays
Chick-fil-A will be closed on Sundays due to the strict Christian beliefs of its late founder, Truett Cathy. This will be the fifth Chick-fil-A location in the UK, with existing restaurants in major cities like London and Leeds.
Fan reactions
Some fans have praised the chain's food as better than other popular franchises. One online reviewer said: "McDonald’s has some great options, but I think we can all agree that Chick-fil-A’s food tastes way better." Another Reddit user wrote: "Chick-fil-A sandwiches blow anything on McDonald's menu out of the water."
US presence and controversy
According to data service ScrapeHero, Chick-fil-A has more than 3,000 locations across the US, found in 48 out of 50 states. The chain has faced controversy in recent years, including protests outside a London restaurant earlier this year. It attempted to expand into the UK in 2019 but faced backlash over its founder's opposition to same-sex marriage. In 2012, then chief executive Dan Cathy criticised marriage equality. When protests erupted over a Chick-fil-A pop-up in Reading in 2019, the chain said its workforce was diverse, consisting of "black, white, gay, straight, Christian, non-Christian" staff.
