Mystery surrounds the opening of a new fast food chain in Swansea, which announced it was to open in 2024 but did not do so. Back in January 2024, popular New Orleans chicken restaurant Popeyes revealed it would be creating a new restaurant in the city by December last year, as part of a UK expansion featuring 30 new locations.
With its planned location the Enterprise Zone in Llansamlet, a spokeswoman for the company reaffirmed in September that the it would still open before the end of the year, but fans of the brand are still waiting for its arrival. WalesOnline contacted Popeyes for an update a year on from the first announcement, but it said it was not able to share one at this time.
Popeyes has been a big hit since opening in other Welsh locations. We reported how it opened a new drive-thru Popeyes restaurant in Cardiff Bay Retail Park in August 2023, and people queued on a pavement overnight to win free fast food for a year. The fast food chain had offered free chicken sandwiches for a year to its first three drive-thru and pedestrian customers on its opening day. Kevin Kiernan queued in the cold in his pyjamas for nine hours despite never having tried Popeyes before. You can read more about that by clicking here. For the latest restaurant reviews, sign up to our food and drink newsletter here.
It was the same story in Newport in September 2024, after Kassim Hayat, 34, who is from Pill in Newport, was one of the first people to queue outside the restaurant, earning him free food for a year. He had been queuing since 5.30am the previous morning. You can read more about that by clicking here.
He said at the time: “I’ll be getting three Chicken Sandwiches a week for the whole year. I’m really excited about it because I’ve tried them in the Cardiff branch and the burgers are really good and tasty. It’ll be nice to get the burgers for my children.” He added: “I think that it’s a good thing that Popeyes has come to Newport. It’s important to bring businesses and jobs to the area.” Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news. You will receive updates from us daily.