Chicken fans queue over 16 hours for Popeyes® Exeter opening

Chicken lovers queued for over 16 hours for the much-anticipated opening of the new Popeyes® Exeter restaurant on the High Street yesterday morning.

The launch day saw the New Orleans inspired brass band, ‘The Brass Funkeys’, welcoming guests as doors opened to the brand-new space which can seat over 120 people.

Members of the public queued from 6.30pm on Sunday 17th March, over 16 hours before the doors opened, to be the first to get their hands on the famous Popeyes® menu. The queue spanned almost 100 metres down the high street.   

A student from Exeter University was one of the first in the queue, having arrived at 6.30 the previous evening. “I don’t know anyone who loves fried chicken more than I do!  I got the email and knew I needed to be there and I needed to be the first one in!”

Popeyes® Famous Louisiana Chicken is now open every day from 8am-10pm.Known for the Popeyes® world famous ‘shatter crunch’, and the Chicken sandwich that ‘broke the internet’ when it launched in the US in 2019, the menu aims to bring a taste of New Orleans to Exeter High Street. lt also features Hot Wings and Tenders, as well as original Southern biscuits and gravy, and Cajun rice.

This brand new restaurant is Popeyes® 42nd location to open in the UK in just two and a half years. The Exeter location has created 80 jobs for the local area.

After the huge success of opening day in Exeter, Popeyes® will be launching their Breakfast menu from today (Tuesday 19th March). The ‘Brekkie’ menu launched around the UK last month, featuring British breakfast classics with a New Orleans twist, such as the Big Cajun breakfast roll, Cajun hash browns and indulgent Nutella-topped buttermilk biscuits. Breakfast will be available until 11am every day.

Students will be excited to know that Popeyes® have increased their UNiDAYS offer to 25% meaning students across Exeter can get their hands on the mouth-watering menu at a whopping discounted price by ordering online. 

Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes® UK said: “We are delighted that so many locals turned up for the opening day and enjoyed a taste of New Orleans through food and music. Exeter has been a key location for us since we landed in the UK, so the response to our opening has been incredible to see.”

Popeyes® Exeter is located at 50-52 High St. There are over 120 seats for guests to dine in, or guests can takeaway, or order online to collect. Opening times 8am-10pm, open every day.

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