ChicKing Confirms Major UK Expansion With New Restaurants

Key Points

• ChicKing, a Dubai-founded fried chicken brand, has confirmed a major expansion of its UK restaurant network.
• The company currently operates more than 475 restaurants across more than 45 countries worldwide.
• ChicKing entered the UK market in 2017, opening its first branches in Acton and Marylebone, west London.
• The brand now runs 24 restaurants across Britain, with several new openings planned.
• Six new restaurants are set to open across the UK over six consecutive weeks, with one launching every Saturday.
• The first of the new sites has already opened in Clarkston, with Sighthill next in line.
• Further locations earmarked for new restaurants include Hamilton, East Ham, Liverpool and Stirling.
• Asaad Tariq, master franchisee for ChicKing UK at Foodfixx, described the UK as one of the brand’s “most exciting” markets.
• Mr Tariq said demand for premium halal quick service restaurants in Britain is “massive, underserved and growing fast”.
• The company says its focus is on building a network of “community-rooted” franchise owners rather than simply opening outlets.

United Kingdom (Britain Today News) July 04, 2026 – A global fried chicken brand has confirmed major expansion plans for the UK, with a string of new restaurant openings scheduled across the country in the coming weeks. ChicKing, which was established in Dubai in 2000, currently operates more than 475 restaurants in more than 45 countries, and the franchisee driving its British rollout has described the UK as one of its “most exciting” markets to date.

What has ChicKing announced for its UK expansion?

ChicKing has confirmed that its UK operation is entering a new phase of growth, with six additional restaurants due to open across the country over a six-week period. The announcement marks one of the brand’s most significant expansion pushes in Britain since it first entered the market nearly a decade ago.

Asaad Tariq, master franchisee for ChicKing UK at Foodfixx, confirmed the scale of the brand’s ambitions, stating:

“For those who don’t know us yet, ChicKing was born in Dubai in 2000.”

The expansion reflects a broader strategy by the company to deepen its footprint in the UK, building on the steady growth it has achieved since its arrival in 2017.

Where and when did ChicKing originate?

ChicKing was founded in Dubai in the year 2000, and has since grown into one of the more recognisable fried chicken brands operating in the halal quick service restaurant sector internationally. Over the past two decades, the company has expanded well beyond the Middle East, establishing a presence across dozens of countries worldwide.

According to figures confirmed by the brand, ChicKing now runs more than 475 restaurants in more than 45 countries, positioning it as one of the larger international players within the halal fast-food space.

How has ChicKing grown since launching in the UK?

ChicKing’s UK journey began in 2017, when the brand opened its first British restaurants in west London, with initial sites launched in Acton and Marylebone. Since that initial entry into the UK market, the company has expanded gradually, building up its presence across the country.

The brand now operates 24 restaurants across the UK, according to the company. This growth has laid the groundwork for the latest, more ambitious phase of expansion now under way.

What did Asaad Tariq say about the UK market?

Asaad Tariq, who leads ChicKing’s UK operations as master franchisee at Foodfixx, spoke directly about the brand’s growth trajectory and its plans for Britain. He said:

“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.”

His comments underline the significance the company is placing on the UK as part of its wider international growth strategy, positioning Britain alongside other key markets in the brand’s global network.

Why does ChicKing see Britain as a key market?

Explaining the rationale behind the brand’s continued investment in the UK, Mr Tariq pointed to strong and rising consumer demand for halal food options that has not yet been fully met by existing operators. He said:

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

This assessment of the UK halal food sector appears to be central to ChicKing’s decision to accelerate its expansion plans, with the company positioning itself to capture a share of what it regards as an underserved segment of the fast-food market.

What is ChicKing’s vision for its franchise network?

Beyond simply increasing its number of outlets, Mr Tariq indicated that the company’s ambitions extend to building a wider community of franchise partners who are personally invested in the brand and the areas they serve. He said:

“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.”

This emphasis on community-rooted ownership suggests that ChicKing’s UK strategy is not purely about scale, but also about embedding the brand within local areas through franchisees who have a genuine connection to the communities they operate in.

Mr Tariq added that the current wave of expansion is only the beginning, stating:

“And we are just getting started.”

What new restaurants are opening in the coming weeks?

The next stage of ChicKing’s UK growth will see six new restaurants launch in quick succession, with each site opening on a Saturday over a six-week period. This structured rollout is designed to bring the brand to a series of new communities in a short space of time.

Mr Tariq detailed the timeline of openings, saying:

“Last week, we opened in Clarkston. This Saturday, we open Sighthill. And then? One new ChicKing every Saturday for the next six weeks.”

He summarised the scale of the rollout succinctly, adding:

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

Which restaurant has already opened?

The first restaurant in this latest phase of expansion has already opened its doors in Clarkston, marking the starting point of the six-week rollout described by Mr Tariq.

Which restaurant is opening next?

Following the Clarkston launch, the next site confirmed to open is in Sighthill, which is scheduled to launch this coming Saturday, according to Mr Tariq’s comments.

Which locations will benefit from the six-week rollout?

Beyond Clarkston and Sighthill, ChicKing has confirmed a further list of locations that are set to receive new restaurants as part of the ongoing expansion. These additional sites include Hamilton, East Ham, Liverpool and Stirling.

Are the new sites spread across the UK?

The confirmed locations span both Scotland and England, reflecting a UK-wide approach to the rollout rather than a regional focus. Clarkston, Sighthill, Hamilton and Stirling are located in Scotland, while East Ham and Liverpool extend the brand’s reach into England.

This geographical spread indicates that ChicKing is seeking to strengthen its presence in multiple parts of the UK simultaneously, rather than concentrating solely on one region.
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How does ChicKing position itself in the halal food sector?

ChicKing has built its identity around offering halal fried chicken and related fast-food products, targeting a segment of the market that the company believes remains underserved despite growing consumer demand. Mr Tariq’s remarks about the sector being “massive, underserved and growing fast” reflect the company’s broader positioning within the UK’s competitive fast-food landscape.

By expanding its outlet numbers while also emphasising franchisee engagement with local communities, the brand appears to be attempting to differentiate itself from other operators in the halal quick service space, many of whom compete for similar customer bases in urban and suburban areas across the UK.

What could this expansion mean for UK consumers?

For consumers in the areas set to receive new restaurants, the expansion is likely to mean greater access to halal quick service dining options in locations that may currently have fewer such choices. The rollout across Clarkston, Sighthill, Hamilton, East Ham, Liverpool and Stirling suggests that ChicKing is targeting a mix of urban centres and suburban communities.

The company’s stated ambition to build “community-rooted” franchises may also translate into local job creation and investment in the areas where the new restaurants are opening, although specific details on employment numbers or investment figures have not been provided by the company at this stage.

What happens next for ChicKing in the UK?

With one new restaurant confirmed to open every Saturday over the coming six weeks, ChicKing’s UK expansion is set to continue at a steady pace through the summer. Mr Tariq’s comments suggest that this phase of growth is being viewed by the company as part of a longer-term strategy rather than a one-off push.

His closing remark, that the brand is “just getting started”, indicates that further expansion beyond the current six-restaurant rollout may follow, although no additional locations beyond those already announced have been confirmed at this time.

As the rollout progresses, attention will likely turn to how the new restaurants are received in their respective communities, and whether ChicKing’s UK growth continues at a similar pace once the current six-week schedule of openings has been completed.