US fast food chain to open 20 sites in the UK with the first opening in months
THE UK’s fast food scene is set to welcome another American sensation.
Captain D’s has announced plans to open 20 restaurants across the country.
This expansion follows the successful launch of US favourites Popeyes, Chick-fil-A and Dave’s Hot Chicken in the UK.
Captain D’s is a prominent fast-food restaurant chain in the United States, renowned for its seafood offerings.
The brand is celebrated for its hand-battered fish and indulgent seafood platters.
These feature an array of dishes such as crispy butterfly shrimp, crab shells stuffed with seafood, and even a dozen fried oysters available as a side option.
Additionally, the chain is well-known for its hush puppies – small, savoury, deep-fried balls made from a cornmeal-based batter that perfectly complement its seafood dishes.
Captain D’s has officially signed a 20-unit master franchise agreement to introduce its restaurants to the United Kingdom, marking the brand’s inaugural foray into the European market.
The expansion is advancing rapidly, with plans for the first UK location to open in Kent by August 2025.
However, the precise site of the debut restaurant remains unconfirmed, as the chain is still in the process of negotiating a lease for an undisclosed location.
Following the Kent opening, further restaurants are expected to launch soon after in Sussex and Hampshire, paving the way for Captain D’s growth across the region.
Naveed Chattha, operations director of CDs Holdings, said: “We have been looking for the right brand to introduce to the UK market, which is exciting and healthy.
“There is a large fish and chips market in the UK, but no one has tried to apply discipline, standards, and quality to such a level here before. With our experience, we feel Captain D’s is the right choice.”
How to save money eating out
THERE are a number of ways that you can save money when eating out. Here's how:
Discount codes – Check sites like Sun Vouchers or VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order.
Tastecard – This is a members club where you pay to have access to discounts worth up to 50 per cent off at thousands of restaurants. It costs £4.99 a month or £34.99 for the year.
Loyalty schemes – Some restaurants will reward you with discounts or a free meal if you register with their loyalty scheme, such as Nando’s where you can collect a stamp with every visit. Some chains like Pizza Express will send you discounts for special occasions, such as your birthday, if you sign up to their newsletter.
Voucher schemes – Look out for voucher schemes offered by third party firms, such as Meerkat Meals. If you compare and buy a product through CompareTheMarket.com then you’ll be rewarded with access to the discount scheme. You’ll get 2 for 1 meals at certain restaurants through Sunday to Thursday.
Student discounts – If you’re in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It’s always worth asking before you place your order.
US fast food chains expand into the UK
Captain D’s is just one of a number of US fast food chains opening branches across the UK.
The burger joint Wendy’s is already a hit in the US with over 6,000 restaurants.
Now the chain that “blows McDonald’s out of the water” has plans to open 400 locations.
The chain returned to the UK high street in 2021 after a 20-year hiatus.
Wendy’s is most famous for its square-shaped hamburgers, which are designed to maximise the amount of meat in every bite.
Major US fast food chain Chick-fil-A is opening branches across the UK this year too, including in Belfast, Leeds, Liverpool and London.
The Sun exclusively revealed the exact locations of their first five UK restaurants.
Tex-Mex brand Velvet Taco will also making its UK debut in the spring.
Popeyes entered the UK market in 2021 and has proved to be a hit with ravenous customers ever since.
In just 30 months, the brand opened over 38 restaurants across the UK.
It has plans to reach the 60-restaurant milestone by the end of 2024.
Shake Shack, which started out as a hotdog cart, recently opened its first restaurant inside a UK train station.
Brits commuting in St. Pancras International Station can now grab their favourite burgers before jumping onto their train.
The new spot marks the fast food giant’s 16th location in the UK since it was launched in Covent Garden in 2013.
While most of Shake Shack’s UK sites are based in London, bosses have expanded into other locations in recent years, including Essex, Oxford, and Cardiff.
Shake Shack’s humble beginnings trace back to a New York hot dog cart helmed by Randy Garutti.
Wingstop, which currently has 57 sites across the UK, revealed plans in January to open 20 more before the end of 2025.
Wingstop UK said at least 10 new locations will open in the first half of the year.
Branches will pull up their shutters in Swansea, Essex and London, among other spots.
Popeyes is also eyeing up opening 45 locations in the UK this year after pulling up the shutters on 33 sites in 2024.
The fast-food joint, which is famous for its Louisiana-style chicken burgers and tenders, first came to the UK in 2021, opening a site in Westfield shopping centre in Stratford.
But it now intends to expand across the UK, including in cities like Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol.
Dunkin’ Donuts, which currently has 30 stores in the UK, hopes to open 30 new branches over the next couple of years as part of a major expansion plan.
Dunkin’ Donuts landed in the UK in St John’s in Liverpool in May 2016.
The chain is huge in the US, with almost 9,500 stores spread across the country.
It sells a range of doughnuts, other sweet treats, and hot and cold drinks.