Fast-growing KFC rival reveals major UK expansion with new restaurants

Last updated: 2026/07/02 at 3:34 PM

Will Millar

3 Min Read

A customer enjoying and picking a crispy chicking strips. (Jam Press/ChicKing)

A fast-growing fried chicken chain is ramping up its UK expansion as it continues to grow its presence across Britain.

ChicKing, which was founded in Dubai in 2000, now operates more than 475 restaurants in more than 45 countries and is looking to build on its growing success in the UK.

The brand made its British debut in 2017 with its first restaurants in west London, opening sites in Acton and Marylebone.

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Since then, it has steadily expanded its footprint and now operates 24 restaurants across the UK, with bosses describing Britain as one of the brand’s “most exciting” markets, as reported by creatorzine.com.

Asaad Tariq, master franchisee for ChicKing UK at Foodfixx, said: “For those who don’t know us yet, ChicKing was born in Dubai in 2000.

ChicKing accelerates its UK expansion with six new restaurants in six weeks as the Dubai-born halal fried chicken chain grows its footprint across Britain — A general view of a ChicKing store. ()Jam Press/ChicKing

“We’re now in 45-plus countries with 475-plus outlets worldwide, and the UK is one of the most exciting chapters of that story.

“Why? Because the demand for premium halal quick service restaurants in Britain is massive, underserved and growing fast.

“We’re not just opening restaurants – we’re building a network of passionate, community-rooted franchise owners who are proud of what they serve and who they serve it to.

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“And we are just getting started.”

The next phase of that growth will see the company open six new UK restaurants in six weeks, with a new site launching every Saturday.

(Jam Press/ChicKing)

The first has already opened in Clarkston, followed by planned openings in Edinburgh, Hamilton, East Ham, Liverpool and Stirling over the coming weeks.

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Tariq added: “Last week, we opened in Clarkston.

“This Saturday, we open Sighthill.

“And then? One new ChicKing every Saturday for the next six weeks.

“Six openings. Six communities. Six new ChicKing families.”

The expansion comes almost a decade after ChicKing entered the UK market, with the business continuing to grow its presence across both England and Scotland.

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