At 9am on Tuesday a steady queue of Londoners lined up outside a new Popeyes chicken shop at London Bridge station.
At the front two men and a woman sat in camping chairs, wrapped up in puffer jackets and scarves to fight the cold.
These were the top three contenders in the race to win a lifetime of free chicken sandwiches - an exclusive prize to celebrate Popeye’s opening their 100th store.
The offer includes 12 vouchers for either a free Classic or Spicy Chicken Sandwich every 12 months, valid for 50 years.
The committed trio joined the queue at 10am on Monday morning and 24 hours later were rewarded with free sandwiches and exclusive merchandise.
One man, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “It was definitely worth the wait. We haven't eaten all night.
“Now we just have to hope Popeyes keeps going for another 50 years.”
They were joined by 50 other fans, who travelled from as far as Oxford and Manchester, to receive branded T-shirts and bucket hats as well as a free sandwich.
Amongst them, students Iris, 23, and Iris, 24, have been waiting since 8am. They said: “We’re here for the free chicken! We’ve heard it's the best fried chicken in London.”
Another fan, from Beckenham, described the brand's appeal to Londoners.
She said: “I was hoping to be one of the first three people but I only got here at 9am.
“Popeyes takes Southern fried food to another level, we just don’t have something that tastes like this in London. I still remember the first time I had it.”
Popeyes, a New Orleans chain, has reached the milestone of 100 new stores just four years after entering the British market.
Another woman said: “I’ve never eaten Popeyes before and it's an American franchise. I’ve not been to America yet so I’m excited to try and see what it tastes like. I’m so excited.”
Almost everyone in the queue has heard about the opening through social media, from Instagram to TikTok and even Chinese social platforms.
Opening the doors alongside a live New Orleans jazz band, CEO of Popeyes UK Tom Crowley said: “The brand is a global phenomenon but the UK has responded incredibly well to us.
“Wherever we go we have got the same response with people queuing - the first person today has been here for 24 hours.
“The brand is 50 years old and has really perfected the recipe of fried chicken, there's a bit of a different store experience with New Orleans music always playing and it’s just a great vibe.”
Just last week, people queued for 19 hours at the Popeyes opening in Swindon and in Manchester last year a man broke the record with a 25 hour wait for a year of free sandwiches.
Spanning two floors and 3,000 square feet, the London Bridge restaurant is Popeyes’ latest move into high-traffic travel hubs.
Earlier this year, the brand partnered with SSP Group to open its first UK airport site at Birmingham Airport and later added a location at Birmingham New Street Station.
The company was also named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025.
