Popeyes confirms Llanelli opening date – with free chicken for the first 100 customers

The US fried chicken brand announced the opening date today, confirming the new restaurant will launch at 11am at Parc Trostre Retail Park. Popeyes said the Llanelli site will be its fifth Welsh restaurant following openings in Swansea, Cardiff and Newport.

To mark what the company describes as its “first Welsh opening of 2026”, Popeyes says it will offer a series of giveaways on launch day. According to the chain, the first three people in the queue will receive free Deluxe Chicken Sandwiches for a year. The first 50 customers will receive branded merchandise, and the first 100 will be given a free Deluxe Chicken Sandwich.

Popeyes said the queue will officially open at 9am. The company pointed to its Swansea launch last autumn, where it claims some customers queued for 18 hours to be among the first through the door.

The chain says the Llanelli menu will include its signature Chicken Sandwich, wraps, hot wings and tenders, all made with fresh chicken marinated for 12 hours in its Louisiana seasoning blend and hand‑breaded for what it calls its “shatter‑crunch”. Sides will include Mac & Cheese, gravy and smoky beans.

Popeyes UK Chief Executive Officer Tom Crowley said:

“The excitement from Welsh fans never disappoints. Last autumn, our Swansea opening saw 18‑hour queues, following other successful launches in Cardiff and Newport. Opening our fifth restaurant in Wales is another key step in our growth journey, and we’re looking forward to welcoming Llanelli diners on the 7th February.”

The company says the new restaurant will seat 74 people and create 81 jobs locally. It will open in Unit 15 at Parc Trostre, replacing the former Pizza Hut site.

The Llanelli launch follows months of anticipation after Swansea Bay News first reported the chain’s plans for the town and its wider South Wales expansion.

Popeyes will hold a preview evening on 6 February, with the company inviting media and local guests to sample the menu ahead of opening day.

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Fried chicken frenzy: Popeyes to open at Parc Trostre after Pizza Hut closure

From queues in Swansea to Parc Trostre

The US fried chicken giant has already made waves in Wales, with fans in Swansea queuing for a staggering 18 hours when the doors opened this autumn. Now, Llanelli residents will get their own taste of the legendary Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich, alongside tenders, wraps and biscuits with Cajun gravy.

The new restaurant will be based at Unit 15 Parc Trostre, just a stone’s throw from the Scarlets’ stadium, and marks the brand’s fifth Welsh opening after Cardiff City Centre, Cardiff Bay, Newport and Swansea.

A taste of New Orleans

Each piece of Popeyes® chicken is marinated for 12 hours in Louisiana herbs and spices, then hand‑breaded and battered to deliver the chain’s trademark “shatter crunch.”

The menu will also feature Popeyes® Tenders, Signature Wraps and the full range of sides, with dine‑in and takeaway options available.

“Excited to bring the spirit of New Orleans”

Tom Crowley, Popeyes® UK Chief Executive Officer, said:

“The response to our Welsh openings has always been fantastic, and we’re now excited to bring the spirit of New Orleans to Llanelli. Opening our fifth Welsh restaurant marks another big step in our growth journey, and we’re looking forward to welcoming guests to Popeyes in Trostre Park very soon.”

From Pizza Hut to Popeyes

The move comes after the closure of Llanelli’s Pizza Hut branch earlier this year, when the franchisee entered administration. Popeyes® will now breathe new life into the unit, promising jobs and a fresh draw for Parc Trostre shoppers.

The distinctive ‘dine‑in’ neon arrow sign on the side of Pizza Hut’s Llanelli Parc Trostre restaurant, viewed from the retail park entrance.
(Image: Google Maps)

What locals can expect

If Swansea’s opening is anything to go by, queues are likely to snake around Parc Trostre as fried chicken fans race to be first through the doors. The arrival of Popeyes® is also expected to bring a jobs boost, with the chain’s UK expansion creating thousands of new roles nationwide and Llanelli set to benefit.

The menu will cater to a wide range of customers, with all Popeyes® chicken certified halal. That inclusivity, combined with the brand’s trademark crunch, is likely to make it a hit across communities. And for those who serve, Popeyes® is offering a 10% discount to Blue Light Card and Defence Discount Service holders — a nod of thanks to frontline workers.

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Popeyes marks 100th UK store with nationwide giveaway – Swansea fans included

The New Orleans‑born fried chicken chain, which drew 18‑hour queues when it opened in Swansea city centre last month, will hand out 100 free Chicken Sandwiches at every UK restaurant and drive‑thru between 10am and 12pm on Tuesday 25 November.

The giveaway coincides with the launch of Popeyes’ latest site at London Bridge, but the celebrations will be felt across the country – including Swansea, where the brand opened in the former Topshop building on Oxford Street.

Week‑long deal for fans

For those who miss the giveaway, Popeyes is also offering a week‑long deal on its signature Chicken Sandwich, Fries and a Coca‑Cola® drink for just £5.99. The promotion runs from 24–30 November and can be redeemed nationwide through the Popeyes UK app.

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Rapid growth since 2021

Since debuting in the UK in 2021, Popeyes has expanded from its first restaurant in Westfield Stratford to 100 locations in just four years. The company says it has created over 2,000 jobs in the past year alone, with a team expected to reach 3,500 employees by the end of 2025.

Queues around the block have become a hallmark of Popeyes openings, with Swansea’s launch proving no exception. Hundreds of fans lined Oxford Street overnight to be among the first through the doors, echoing scenes seen at other UK sites since the brand’s arrival.

CEO thanks fans

Tom Crowley, CEO at Popeyes UK & Ireland, said:

“Reaching our 100th restaurant is an incredible milestone, and it’s all thanks to our amazing fans across the UK. We can’t wait to thank customers past and present with these giveaways of our most beloved menu item, and give everyone the chance to enjoy a true taste of New Orleans. Here’s to the next 100!”

What happens next

Popeyes lovers in Swansea can head to the Oxford Street restaurant from 10am on Tuesday 25 November to be in with a chance of bagging one of the 100 free Chicken Sandwiches.

The £5.99 Chicken Sandwich, Fries and Coca‑Cola® drink offer will be available all week through the Popeyes UK app.

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