Guildford has never been short of somewhere to grab a bite to eat, but the town looks as though it is about to add a rather big name to the list. Signs have appeared in the town centre suggesting that Popeyes, the American fried chicken chain that has built up something of a cult following in recent years, is preparing to open its doors in Guildford.
If it goes ahead as the banners suggest, it would be the first Popeyes restaurant anywhere in Surrey, giving chicken lovers an alternative to the likes of KFC or the local kebab shops.
Openin’ Soon – 28th August 2026
NEWS: Popeyes to open Guildford store as bright orange banners appear in town centre → https://t.co/9UAZQjolYn via SurreyLive
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The clues are hard to miss, with bright orange signs having gone up on the unit just to the right of White Lion Walk, in the spot that was, until recently, home to JD Sports before the sportswear giant moved into a larger store within the Friary Centre.
The banners cheerfully declare that the restaurant is ‘Openin’ Soon’, complete with a QR code for anyone interested in working there. It is the sort of low-key reveal that tends to get a town talking and, given Guildford’s well-documented appetite for fried chicken, it is fair to assume there will be no shortage of interest when the doors finally open later this month.
About Popeyes
For anyone not familiar with the brand, Popeyes was founded back in 1972 by a man who set out with the fairly simple ambition of serving the best fried chicken around. It has clearly struck a chord somewhere along the line, with more than 4,000 locations now open across the globe, serving up a menu built around chicken burgers, wraps and tenders.
There are already several branches dotted around London, including one in Kingston that is due to open in the coming days, as well as a restaurant over in Crawley on the far side of the county. A Guildford opening would give those in this corner of Surrey somewhere far closer to home to see what all the fuss is about.