A new US fried chicken restaurant is coming to Manchester with whisky cocktails, music and live sport

Originally founded in Arkansas, Slim Chickens has chosen intu Trafford Centre to open its biggest restaurant yet

Written by Louise Rhind-Tutt
Last updated 4 years ago
Food & Drink

Tom Gordon and Greg Smart opened the first Slim Chickens in Fayetteville, Arkansas, in 2003 with the ambition of creating freshly cooked chicken, fast.

Now, the business has grown to over 100 sites in the US alone, with restaurants in the UK including Bluewater, Cardiff, Bristol, Southampton and Birmingham, as well as three in London.

Next month, Slim Chickens is coming to Manchester – and its ninth UK branch will be its biggest yet with around 135 covers.

The 2527 sq ft intu Trafford Centre restaurant, which opens on 2nd November, will also be the first to have its own dedicated drinks bar.

Renowned for its Southern US hospitality, Manchester diners can expect the brand’s signature buttermilk-marinated, hand-breaded and cooked-to-order chicken when the new restaurant opens.

House specialties include crispy tenders alongside a range of 14 dipping sauces in innovative flavours, including Slim’s signature sauce, blue cheese, honey BBQ, Korean BBQ, Sriracha garlic, ranch, and – for those brave enough – the fiery Inferno.

Also, on offer is a wide selection of fresh fried chicken sandwiches, wings, salads and wraps as well as sides such as fried pickles and mac & cheese.

Set meals will offer good value with three tenders, three wings, Texas toast fries, house sauce and bottomless soda at just £10.95.

And, as an added incentive, if you download the Slim Chickens app, you can receive three free chicken tenders (minimum spend £2.95).

Drinks, meanwhile, will include hand-spun shakes in flavours such as Oreo, popcorn and caramel, a Slims IPA, and unique cocktails such as the Corn Star Martini and Whisky Smash.

As well as food, Slim Chickens at intu Trafford Centre will also serve up a menu of music from delta blues to American rock, whilst also showing live sports.

Or, for those who’d prefer to stay home, Slim Chickens will also be offering delivery via Deliveroo, Just Eats and Uber Eats – or simply go online for click & collect.

Slim Chickens will open at The Great Hall, intu Trafford Centre, on 2nd November.

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