US restaurant chain Slim Chickens opening its second Manchester eatery in the Arndale

A popular US chicken chain is moving into Manchester city centre after previously feeding shoppers at a popular retail centre.

Slim Chickens is opening its second eatery in the city in the Manchester Arndale shopping centre and has promised to create dozens of new jobs.

The chicken joint already has a successful place to grab a bite to eat at The Trafford Centre.

The new place will be the company’s 16th UK eating spot.

What is Slim Chickens and where and when is its new Manchester eatery opening?

The new Slim Chickens eatery is opening in the Upper Mall of the Manchester Arndale on Thursday 24 February.

It has taken on premises which can seat more than 100 diners over two floors and there are click-and-collect and home delivery options for those who don’t want to make the trip to the shopping hub.

The business also says it has created around 60 jobs by opening the new restaurant.

Slim Chickens aims to conjure up the food and atmosphere of the American Deep South, with an array of chicken dishes and dipping sauces alongside things like mac ‘n’ cheese and vegetarian options, all with a bit of blues music in the background.

What has been said about the new restaurant opening?

The business has received a warm welcome from Arndale bosses and says it is looking forward to opening in Manchester city centre.

Phil Neale, marketing and communications director at the Boparan Restaurant Group, which owns Slim Chickens, said: “Manchester is home to a thriving and diverse food scene, and we can’t wait to be a bigger part of it as we prepare to open our Manchester Arndale restaurant.

“We opened our restaurant at The Trafford Centre less than a year ago, and we’ve been delighted with its success to date – so much so that we’re expanding our local offering with the launch of our Manchester Arndale restaurant.”

Colin Flinn, spokesperson for Manchester Arndale, said: “It’s great news that Slim Chickens will be moving into Manchester Arndale for what will be a fantastic addition to the dynamic mix of shops, restaurants and leisure facilities that we offer.

“The arrival of such a fast-growing restaurant chain helps to strengthen the centre’s position as a must-have trading location and follows recent lettings to other on-trend places to eat such as Kokoro, Pizza Luxe, Archie’s and Doner Shack.

“We are looking forward to working with Slim Chickens as it prepares to open in February, and we hope to share more exciting news about other new occupiers in the coming weeks as we continue to make Manchester Arndale home to a diverse set of dining experiences alongside leisure and lifestyle operators, supported by a wide-ranging retail offer.”