Fried chicken restaurants in the UK

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Fried chicken fast food restaurants are commonplace in inner city areas of the UK. Emulating the well known brand KFC, they are aimed at the late-night snacking market and mostly frequented by males in their 20s. ^[1] The UK has one of the largest ^[2] , fastest growing and most diverse fried chicken markets in the world, with about 1,000 individual brands and 1,700 outlets ^[1]. Shop signs are commonly designed in a red, white and blue colour scheme, and include a drawing or cartoon of a chicken, as well as a reference to the Southern United States. Many British chicken outlets serve Halal meat and use a more spicy batter formula to differentiate themselves from KFC and appeal to young Muslim customers. Some have also diversified to sell Kebab,Pizza and Fish and Chips. Especially popular in poor and ethnic minority neighbourhoods, fried chicken restaurants have been criticised for contributing to urban blight. For instance, Tottenham MP David Lammy thinks the proliferation of chicken joints hampers prosperity in his constituency ^[1]. Residents in Waltham Forest see them as "eyesores that encourage anti-social behaviour", according to a poll ^[3] , and council leader Clyde Loakes sees them as damaging to progress and achievement. ^[4] Popular UK chicken brands include Chicken Cottage, Favorite Chicken, Miss Millie's Fried Chicken and Dixy Chicken.