Drake-backed Dave’s Hot Chicken finds first UK site

Hospitality investment firm Azzurri Group has secured its first UK site for celebrity-backed restaurant chain Dave’s Hot Chicken. The restaurant will open in 3,500 sq ft at Criterion Capital’s 40 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1, in December. The site was formerly home to Fratelli La Bufala restaurant but has more recently been taken by a souvenir shop on a short-term lease. In July, Dave’s, backed by rapper Drake, actor Samuel L Jackson and singer Usher, signed a franchise deal with Azzurri to roll out the brand in the UK, with plans to open 60 outlets nationwide. The US chain has grown to more than 200 sites since it was founded in 2017. Azzurri’s portfolio includes chains Zizzi, Ask Italian, Coco di Mama and Boojum. Jim Attwood, managing director of Coco di Mama, is running the launch of Dave’s and will lead both businesses. Omar Aziz, a director at Criterion Capital, said: “We remain committed to driving long-term growth and supporting a sustainable economy. This highly sought-after corner site drew significant interest from numerous parties, but Dave’s Hot Chicken and Azzurri Group stood out with their strong vision for the space.” P-Three acted for Criterion Capital and KLM acted for Dave’s Hot Chicken. The site launch comes as other US fried chicken and fast food restaurant brands hunt for sites to get a foothold in the UK market. Chick-fil-A, Bonchon Chicken and Wingstop are among those entering or expanding their presence in the UK. Bonchon Chicken has already mandated Christie & Co to look for its UK master franchise and Boparan Restaurant Group has signed a deal with American burger chain Carl’s Jr as the UK master franchisee and already has sites lined up to open in early 2025.