US chicken chain creates 50 jobs as first North East branch ‘chicks-in’ to Metrocentre

A US chicken restaurant is due to open its first branch in the North East next week while creating 50 new jobs.

Slim Chickens, which is known by fans as ‘Slims’ and has over 100 stores in the United States, has chosen Gateshead’s Metrocentre as the home of its 14th restaurant in the UK. It will open on Thursday 19th August.

The new restaurant is located in the Upper Qube dining quarter of the Metrocentre and expects to boost the local economy with the creation of 50 new kitchen and front of house jobs which are said to offer ‘excellent’ team training and career progression.

The restaurant also aims to bring Southern Hospitality to the North East, alongside ‘premium’ chicken with a side of blues music, with Slims forecasting that it will serve over 100,000 students in the region, as well as families and tourists visiting the North East this summer.

Slim Chickens will host a preview event for local influencers, bloggers, vloggers, editors and radio and TV presenters on Wednesday 18th August before its public opening the following day.

Phil Neale, marketing and communications director at Slim Chickens, commented: “I’ve been with the brand for just 4 months and in that time it’s palpable how much the UK loves Slim Chickens!

“It’s a brand that brings real excitement to local communities so it’s with great pride that we bring a taste of southern US to such a vibrant city in the North East of England.

“The love people, especially students, have for the brand means opening a new site is always a lot of fun, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to our new restaurant at the Metrocentre.”