Slim Chickens restaurant set to expand outside of London with new Cardiff location

Today (October 24), the St David’s Partnership - owners of St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff - has revealed Boparan Restaurant Group (BRG) has secured its first franchised restaurant outside of London for fast-casual American brand, Slim Chickens.

The new 2,400 sq ft restaurant at St David’s is Slim Chickens’ second UK location, joining London’s Bond Street.

It is to be located on the Lower Eastside Arcade and adjacent to Ed’s Easy Diner. The interior, designed by an in-house team will feature digital ordering kiosks and a self-serve refillable drinks station. It has space for 76 covers inside and 16 outside.

Slim Chickens has also experienced growth in America, with over 80 locations across the continent.

Speaking on behalf of the St David’s Partnership, a joint venture between Landsec and intu, Colin Flinn, regional managing director (west), said: “Slim Chickens is a fantastic new addition to the fast-casual offer available at St David’s.

“The brand’s choice to open their first regional UK restaurant at the centre displays our consistency in attracting leading brands wanting to expand their presence outside of London.

“Slim Chickens and the larger Ed’s Easy Diner, both join a string of brands making their Welsh debut at St David’s this year, including Stradivarius, Daniel Wellington and Bershka which is due to open later this year.

“This letting marks the appeal of St David’s as a key destination for brands to launch, grow and take advantage of the demand for an increased leisure offer.”

Tom Crowley, CEO of BRG, added: “We are hugely eager to share our quality handmade food, backed by our focused hospitality service and social environment, to our new customer base in Cardiff.

“As we see consistent growth in the fast-casual sector, we have big ambitions to realise the same success in the UK as we have in America.

“Situated in the heart of one of the UK’s principal cities, St David’s is the obvious choice for our first site outside of London and has an impressive catchment that we simply didn’t want to miss out on.”

The St David’s Partnership dealt directly and Slim Chickens and Ed’s Easy Diner represented themselves.