FRIED CHICKEN BOOM: Six major chicken chain openings in 18 months — and now Wingers picks Swansea for its biggest ever UK restaurant

Wingers — the fast-growing American-style buttermilk chicken brand — has confirmed its first ever Welsh location will open at Parc Fforestfach in Swansea this summer, and that the Swansea unit will be the company’s largest restaurant in the UK.

The arrival is the latest chapter in what has become a remarkable run of fried chicken openings in and around Swansea — a sector that has expanded faster than almost any other part of the local hospitality scene over the past 18 months.

Wingers — biggest in the UK, first in Wales

The new Wingers restaurant will occupy a 2,040 sq ft unit at Parc Fforestfach on a 15-year lease, with the company investing more than £300,000 in the fit-out and creating up to 20 local jobs.

Anthony Round, Franchise Development at Wingers, said the company was “very excited” to be opening at the park, describing the location as a perfect fit.

An opening date and promotional launch event are still to be announced.

Nando’s confirmed at last

Alongside Wingers, the long-anticipated Parc Fforestfach Nando’s has now been confirmed for a summer opening too. Nando’s was first reported by Swansea Bay News to be eyeing the site in October last year, when planning documents revealed the chain was lined up to take over the existing Card Factory unit.

The new Nando’s will occupy a 3,945 sq ft restaurant unit, with earlier planning documents suggesting around 40 jobs would be created.

The chain has been steadily expanding its south-west Wales footprint. Earlier this month, the Llanelli branch was ranked the second-best Nando’s in Wales based on Tripadvisor reviews.

Six chicken arrivals in 18 months

The Wingers and Nando’s confirmations cap an extraordinary run of fried chicken brand expansions across south-west Wales.

The boom began on Wind Street in February 2025 with American wing specialist Wingstop, which confirmed its Swansea opening earlier that year and launched on what is the city’s most concentrated nightlife strip.

Four months later, Wind Street picked up a second chicken chain — American fast-casual brand Slim Chickens opened on 26 June 2025, bringing southern-fried tenders to what the brand itself described as the city’s favourite party street.

Then came the largest single Swansea opening of all. American chicken giant Popeyes launched on Oxford Street on 3 October 2025 in the former Topshop building, drawing 18-hour overnight queues on opening day — one of the most extraordinary opening day responses to any food retailer in the city in living memory.

The Popeyes craze then spread to Llanelli, where the chain took over the former Pizza Hut at Parc Trostre following that brand’s collapse into administration — and opened to 14-hour overnight queues of its own, confirming this wasn’t simply a Swansea phenomenon.

That makes six major fried chicken arrivals or expansions in 18 months: Wingstop (Wind Street, February 2025), Slim Chickens (Wind Street, June 2025), Popeyes (Oxford Street, October 2025), Popeyes (Llanelli Parc Trostre), Nando’s (Parc Fforestfach, summer 2026), and Wingers (Parc Fforestfach, summer 2026).

City centre v retail park

There’s a geography to the boom worth noting. Three of the city centre arrivals — Wingstop, Slim Chickens and Popeyes — sit within a few hundred metres of each other on or around Wind Street and Oxford Street, the heart of Swansea’s evening economy.

The Parc Fforestfach openings serve a different audience: car-borne family trade rather than late-night party crowd, lunch and dinner rather than post-pub.

The pattern reflects a wider trend confirmed by Swansea BID at the end of 2025: new business openings outpaced closures in Swansea city centre over the year, with the city centre reporting renewed business confidence.

Wider Parc Fforestfach line-up

The Wingers and Nando’s arrivals add to a steadily growing mix of leisure, food and retail operators at the retail park. In March, planning permission was sought for a 24-hour Anytime Fitness gym at the site, taking over the large unit previously occupied by Homesense and, before that, Borders.

Children’s indoor activity centre Zuno Play and pet retailer Jollyes are also among the recent or pending additions to the park’s line-up.

The owners’ view

Adam Martin, Director and Head of the Bristol Office at LCP UK — part of M Core, the owners and managers of the retail park (which the company has rebranded as M Parc Fforestfach) — said the lettings reflected a strategy of attracting well-loved, high-quality brands to strengthen the park’s appeal.

Related stories from Swansea Bay News

18-hour queues as Popeyes opens in Swansea
The Oxford Street opening that turned into a regional event.

Fried chicken frenzy as Popeyes lands in Llanelli with 14-hour queue
The Llanelli opening that confirmed the boom wasn’t just a Swansea phenomenon.

Slim Chickens to open new Swansea restaurant on Wind Street
The second American fried chicken arrival on Wind Street in four months.

Nando’s eyes new restaurant at Parc Fforestfach retail park
Our October 2025 report when planning documents first revealed Nando’s plans.

FFORESTFACH: Plans submitted for huge new 24-hour gym at retail park – next to a planned new Nando’s

A planning application has been submitted to Swansea Council for the change of use of units 4 and 5 at the retail park, which would be combined to create a large new fitness facility operated by national chain ‘Gym Location’.

The gym would be located next door to the planned new Nando’s restaurant in unit 3, which is also yet to open, potentially adding two major new leisure destinations to the retail park at the same time.

It would be the second gym on the site, joining the smaller Anytime Fitness which is located in unit 10b.

According to a planning statement submitted as part of the application, the new gym would offer a wide range of facilities including a large free weights area, state-of-the-art cardio equipment, and dedicated studios for classes such as hot yoga, spinning, and boxing.

The operator, Gym Location, already has a number of successful sites across the UK and is looking to expand its presence in Wales.

The application states that the gym would require 24-hour access and will cater to a member base of around 11,000 people.

The move would be the latest in a series of major changes at Parc Fforestfach, which has seen a number of new big-name brands arrive in recent years.

These include a new Food Warehouse store, a new Aldi supermarket, a new McDonald’s restaurant, and a new branch of pet retailer Jollyes.

The planning documents argue that the new gym would be a “complementary use” to the existing retail and food outlets at the park, and will help to support the overall vitality of the site.

It also notes that other leisure uses have already been approved at the retail park, including a soft play area and a tanning studio, setting a precedent for this type of development.

The application will now be considered by planners at Swansea Council.

Nando’s eyes new restaurant at Parc Fforestfach retail park

Documents submitted to Swansea Council by LCP Properties Ltd show proposals to convert Unit 3 at the retail park from retail (Class A1) to food and drink use (Class A3). The supporting planning statement, prepared by consultants Squires Planning, names Nando’s as the intended operator.

111 covers, 40 jobs

The 360sqm unit would be fitted out with a 220sqm dining area providing 111 covers, alongside kitchen, storage and staff facilities. The restaurant would open daily from 11.30am to 10pm, employing around 40 full‑time equivalent staff.

Nando’s already operates two Swansea outlets — one in the city centre at Salubrious Place and another at Morfa Retail Park. The new branch would mark a further investment in the city.

Planning context

The application argues that the change of use would bring a vacant unit back into active use, boosting the local economy and supporting the retail park’s wider offer.

While Swansea’s Local Development Plan restricts food and drink uses at out‑of‑centre retail parks to “small scale” provision, the planning statement contends that the proposal is appropriate in scale and nature for Parc Fforestfach. It also notes that Nando’s would not want to locate another restaurant in the city centre due to competition with its existing branch.

Access and impact

The retail park is served by 1,300 parking spaces, bus stops on Pontardulais Road, and pedestrian links from surrounding roads. The planning statement says the new restaurant would not significantly increase traffic compared with other retail uses, and that noise and amenity impacts can be managed through conditions.

Current occupier

Unit 3 is currently occupied by Card Factory, despite the planning statement describing it as vacant. Swansea Bay News has contacted Card Factory for comment on the proposals and whether the retailer plans to relocate.

Next steps

Swansea Council will now consider the application. If approved, the move would see another national restaurant chain join the line‑up at Parc Fforestfach, which already includes Tesco, Boots, Next, Aldi and Costa Coffee.

Nando’s has been approached for comment.

Chicken chains flock to Swansea

Swansea is fast becoming a hotspot for chicken restaurants — here’s more of our coverage:

• Peri‑peri paradise: Swansea is home to the UK’s highest‑rated Nando’s
  A new study found Swansea’s Nando’s restaurants top the UK for customer satisfaction.
• Slim Chickens to open new Swansea restaurant
  US chain Slim Chickens is bringing its Southern‑style menu to Wind Street, creating 35 jobs.
• Wingstop set to open in Swansea
  The popular chicken wing brand is opening on Wind Street, part of its rapid UK expansion.
• 18‑hour queues as Popeyes opens in Swansea
  Hundreds queued overnight on Oxford Street for the launch of Popeyes’ first Swansea branch.

#CardFactory #chicken #featured #Fforestfach #FforestfachRetailPark #jobs #NandoS #ParcFforestfach #planningApplication #PontarddulaisRoad #restaurant #retail

Discount chain Poundland sold for £1

Pepco Group say Poundland have been sold to Gordon Brothers for the nominal sum of £1.

Gordon Brothers is a global investment firm which formerly owned fashion label Laura Ashley. It says it will invest up to £80m in Poundland to help turn the business around.

As part of the transaction, Gordon Brothers, Pepco Group and Poundland have agreed to put forward a restructuring plan which is likely to look at store closures and reducing the company’s rent bill – details of this to be announced “in due course” Pepco have said.

Pepco has previously said that it’s struggling Poundland stores were “operating in an increasingly challenging UK retail landscape that is only intensifying”. It warned that increased employer National Insurance contributions which kicked in in April have added pressure on the chain.

Poundland has been struggling to compete with other discounters, with sales down in January and February this year.

Poundland started in Burton-on-Trent in 1990 and has since grown to over 800 stores across the UK and Ireland, employing around 16,000 people.

Locally, it has stores in Haverfordwest and Tenby in Pembrokeshire; Carmarthen, Ammanford and Llanelli in Carmarthenshire; Fforestfach, Morfa and the city centre in Swansea; Neath and Aberavon in Neath Port Talbot; and Maesteg, Porthcawl and Bridgend in Bridgend County.  

Pepco branded shops opened in Poland in 2004, expanding into Czechia and Slovakia in 2013 with further expansion into Croatia, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia between 2015 and 2017. Additional stores opened in Latvia, Estonia, Bulgaria, Italy, Serbia, Spain, Austria and Germany from 2018.

Pepco Group was formed following the company’s acquisition of Poundland in 2015 and is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

Pepco say that as part of the sale all stores, colleagues, assets and liabilities of the Poundland business will move under Gordon Brothers’ ownership as part of the transaction.

Pepco Group expects to obtain a minority investment interest in Poundland, subject to the proposed restructuring of Poundland being sanctioned by the High Court in England.

Under this new ownership, the business will be led by Barry Williams, currently Managing Director of Poundland. The business will continue to operate under the Poundland brand in the United Kingdom and under the Dealz brand in the Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland

Stephan Borchert, Pepco Group CEO commented: “The agreed sale of Poundland marks an important milestone in our strategic plan to… focus predominantly on Pepco, our higher margin clothing and general merchandise business.

“This transaction will strongly support our accelerated value creation programme by simplifying the Group and focusing on our successful Pepco business. I am confident that Pepco has the right foundations to be one of Europe’s most successful discount retailers, delivering customer satisfaction, profitable growth and shareholder value.

“Poundland remains a key player in UK discount retail, with millions of customers annually and a well-loved brand and proposition. We want to sincerely thank all the Poundland team for their ongoing commitment and contribution to the Group and wish Barry Williams and his team all the best for the future.”

#Bridgend #Business #Carmarthen #Haverfordwest #Llanelli #Maesteg #MorfaRetailPark #ParcFforestfach #Porthcawl #Poundland #retail #Swansea #Tenby

Iceland’s Food Warehouse opens in Fforestfach

The highly anticipated new store, situated at Parc Fforestfach on Portarddulais Road in Swansea opened to the public on 10 June 2025, bringing with it an estimated 21 additional jobs to the local community. 

To celebrate the grand opening, The Food Warehouse’s Fforestfach store gave away £1,500 worth of store vouchers to the first 150 customers through the doors. 

Raffle tickets were also given to every customer in the queue before 7:45am on opening morning, which saw three winners take home a Tower Panini Presser and seven lucky customers won a Tower Air Fryer. 

Five other shoppers also won the chance to take part in a 90 second supermarket sweep-style trolley dash around the entire empty store, filling their trolleys for free. 

Floyd Vaughan, Store Manager at The Food Warehouse Fforestfach, said: “We’re so pleased to welcome shoppers to our brand new The Food Warehouse store this morning. Everyone was so excited for the grand opening – people were even in the queue from 4am! 

“If you haven’t been down to visit just yet, make sure to check out our brand-new store and get your hands on some unmissable deals.” 

Kristian Barrett, Group Retail Director at Iceland Foods, added: “We’re thrilled to have opened our new Fforestfach store, ensuring even more local residents can get their hands on market-leading deals, alongside a brilliant range of frozen, grocery and fresh foods.”  

The new The Food Warehouse store in Parc Fforestfach will offer multi-buy offers, like 3 for £3, 3 for £5 and 3 for £10 deals, alongside exclusive The Food Warehouse ranges such as Slimming World, Cathedral City, TGI Fridays and more.  

Customers can also find further offers on the Iceland Bonus Card app. 

The store will be open from 8am – 9pm Monday-Saturday, and from 10am – 4pm on Sundays.   

#Business #Fforestfach #ParcFforestfach #retail #supermarket #Swansea #TheFoodWarehouse

New food store to open in Parc Fforestfach

Iceland Foods has announced it will be opening the doors to a brand-new The Food Warehouse store in Parc Fforestfach, Swansea on 10th June, expanding its product offering and giving local residents an-all new shopping experience in the process.

The store will be situated at Parc Fforestfach on Pontarddulais Road in Swansea and will officially open to the public on 10 June 2025, bringing with it an estimated 21 additional jobs to the local community.

To celebrate the store opening, The Food Warehouse say they will be giving away £1,500 worth of The Food Warehouse vouchers to the first 150 customers through the doors, plus a free tray of Ferrero Rocher to the first 200 customers through the checkouts.

With an Iceland store already located at Parc Cwmdu on Carmarthen Road, the frozen food chain say the launch of a new The Food Warehouse store in the area will ensure that even more local residents have access to market-leading deals and big-brand products.

The Food Warehouse was introduced in 2014, with stores often double the size of traditional Iceland stores, offering a much larger range of goods and bigger packs for even better value. The stores are designed to look like a warehouse, with wide shopping aisles and large spaces – offering the perfect environment for customers to buy their favourite products.

Kristian Barrett, Group Retail Director at Iceland Foods, said: “We’re very excited to be opening our new store in Fforestfach ensuring even more local residents can get their hands on market-leading deals, alongside a brilliant range of frozen, grocery and fresh foods.

“We’re hard at work getting everything set up and ready to go and we can’t wait to open our doors to the local community.”

The store opening also coincides with Iceland’s 10% discount for all customers over 60, available every Tuesday across stores.

The Fforestfach store will be open Monday to Sunday from 10th June onwards from 8am until 9pm, Monday to Saturday, and 10am until 4pm on Sundays.

#Fforestfach #foodDrink #Iceland #ParcFforestfach #retail #supermarket #Swansea #TheFoodWarehouse

Major pet retailer to open new store in Swansea

Jollyes, which describes itself as the UK’s fast-growing pet retailer has announced its new store will be opening in May 2025 at Parc Fforestfach Retail Park.

The new store will employ 12 new members of staff including a store manager.

The new Swansea store is one of five locations announced to open this year in addition to plans to overhaul five existing stores as it continues its rapid growth.

In March it will open new stores in Pontefract, West Yorkshire and Chichester in West Sussex, followed by the Swansea store opening, a new Chesterfield store in Derbyshire and the relocation of one of its oldest stores in Perth to new premises in the town.

All five new locations will provide pet parents access to Jollyes’ raw food frozen ‘shop-in-shop’ and community pet clinics for essential vet services such as microchipping and vaccinations.

The Swansea store opening follows the launch of the chain’s Llanelli store at Parc Pemberton in December 2022, and will be the pet retailer’s seventh store in Wales.

Chief executive officer Joe Wykes said: “We understand how much joy a pet brings to families, but we also know the cost of that commitment is high, especially at a time when household budgets are under pressure from energy bills and mortgage payments.

“That’s why we’re simplifying our prices, so customers won’t need to be a member to get the value that pet parents demand.

“Being relentless in lowering prices to deliver on our promise to be the best value pet store in town is at the heart of our DNA and the promise we make to our customers.

“We’re looking forward to bringing that combination of low prices, service and expertise to even more communities during 2025.”

#Business #cats #Dogs #Jollyes #ParcFforestfach #petShop #retail #Swansea