Llanelli was buzzing long before sunrise on Saturday as Popeyes threw open its doors at Parc Trostre, drawing one of the longest fast‑food queues the town has ever seen. The US fried chicken chain officially opened at 11am — but the first customers had already been waiting for 14 hours.
Among them was Ernie, who turned up at 9pm on Friday armed with determination and an appetite.
“I arrived at 9pm,” he said. “I heard about the giveaways and was really excited to try Popeyes.”
He wasn’t alone for long. Henry, who spotted the opening on Instagram, joined the queue soon after.
“I saw Popeyes in America, so I thought I’d come down to see what it was all about,” he said. “I joined Ernie and we made friends in the queue.”
By the time the shutters lifted, the line stretched across Parc Trostre Retail Park, with fans shrugging off the rain for a taste of the chain’s famous Louisiana‑style chicken.
The Llanelli branch — the fifth Popeyes to open in Wales — sits at Unit 15, just a short walk from the Scarlets’ stadium. It seats 74 diners and has created 81 new jobs locally.
Inside, customers were greeted with the brand’s signature menu: the cult‑favourite Chicken Sandwich, hot wings, tenders and wraps, all made with fresh chicken marinated for 12 hours in Popeyes’ Louisiana seasoning before being hand‑breaded for what the chain calls its “shatter‑crunch”.
Tom Crowley, Popeyes UK Chief Executive Officer, said the Llanelli launch showed once again how strong the appetite is for the brand in Wales.
“We’re really pleased to have opened our fifth restaurant in Wales,” he said. “Once again, fans in Wales have shown us how much love there is for Popeyes, and the Llanelli opening marks another exciting step in our growth journey. As always, the energy was amazing, and it’s a great feeling to bring the spirit of New Orleans to Llanelli.”
The opening follows recent launches in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea, with the chain rapidly expanding across the UK.
For Ernie and Henry — and the hundreds who queued behind them — the wait was all part of the fun.
“It was worth it,” Henry said. “And we made friends along the way.”
