The Louisiana fried chicken chain will open at 6–7 Whitewalls, Oxford Street, in the former Topshop and Topman store on the corner of Oxford Street and Whitewalls. The site closed in 2020 when Arcadia went into administration and was purchased by Swansea.com development company in January 2024. The firm, which also holds the stadium naming rights for Swansea City AFC’s home ground, has been working with Caredig Housing Association on a major redevelopment of the building.
The upper floors are being converted into 15 modern apartments, while the ground floor has been divided into three new commercial units. Popeyes® will be the first national operator confirmed for the site, which Swansea.com says is a key part of wider city centre regeneration.
(Image: Swansea Bay News)
Fourth Welsh opening The Swansea branch will be Popeyes’ fourth restaurant in Wales, joining existing sites in Cardiff city centre, Cardiff Bay and Newport. It will also be the brand’s 37th UK opening this year.
Opening day giveaways To celebrate the launch, Popeyes® UK is offering:
- Free Chicken Sandwiches for a year for the first three people in the queue
- Exclusive Popeyes® UK merchandise for the first 50 customers
- A free Chicken Sandwich for the first 100 customers
Queues of up to 16 hours were reported at previous Welsh openings, and Swansea is expected to see similar demand. A Mardi Gras‑style performance from The Brass Funkeys will bring a New Orleans flavour to the launch event.
On the menu The restaurant will serve Popeyes® favourites including the Chicken Sandwich, Signature Wraps, Hot Wings and Tenders, all made with 100% fresh chicken marinated for 12 hours in Louisiana seasonings and hand‑breaded for its signature “shatter‑crunch.”
A breakfast menu will also be available daily from 8am to 10am, including a £1.99 meal deal of a Bacon Roll, Cajun Hash Brown and drink, available exclusively via the Popeyes® UK app.
Tom Crowley, Chief Executive Officer of Popeyes® UK, said: “Wales is a key growth area for Popeyes®, and the passion and excitement from Welsh fans never disappoints – from Cardiff to Newport, people have waited 16 hours for a taste of our famous Chicken Sandwiches. Bringing the New Orleans spirit to Swansea feels like the perfect next step.”
Latest in a wave of US chains Popeyes® is the latest American fast food brand to launch in Swansea. In recent years the city has welcomed:
- Denny’s, which opened its first UK restaurant at Parc Tawe in December 2017
- Taco Bell, which opened on Oxford Street in 2021
- Tim Hortons, the Canadian coffee chain, which opened in Swansea Enterprise Park in December 2022
- Wingstop, the US chicken wing chain, which opened on Wind Street on Monday 3 February 2025
- Slim Chickens, which opened on Wind Street on Thursday 26 June 2025
- Carl’s Jr., the Californian burger chain, which opened its first Swansea restaurant on Wind Street on Thursday 4 September 2025
Can’t wait for this