Chicken Run: Slim Chickens leads 5,229 sq ft of F&B deal at Merry Hill

Merry Hill, one of the UK’s top super regional centres, has announced the signing of ‘better chicken’ brand Slim Chickens. Set to open in May, Slim Chickens has taken a prominent location at one of the food court entrances to the centre.

Slim Chickens, known for its Southern-inspired cuisine, will open the two-floor, 5,229 sq ft unit with seating for 175 covers. The restaurant will strengthen Merry Hill’s roster of quick-service dining options, offering a wide range of hand-breaded fried chicken, including tenders and Buffalo Wings, alongside sandwiches and salads.

Ben Blore, Head of Operations at Slim Chickens, said: “We’re proud to continue our expansion across the UK with this latest signing at Merry Hill. The destination already boasts a diverse and vibrant dining scene with a loyal customer base, so we are looking forward to welcoming customers from across the West Midlands, to enjoy our Southern-inspired comfort food.”

Nick Round, Senior Asset Manager at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, on behalf of Merry Hill, commented: “The signing of Slim Chickens is a big step for Merry Hill, as we continue to attract great quality F&B. Slim Chickens has proven success, so this commitment highlights Merry Hill’s profitability, and reinforces its appeal as a leading dining and leisure destination for visitors.”

This deal at Merry Hill follows the recent signings of Burger & Sauce and Heavenly Desserts. This duo are the final additions to Merry Hill’s leisure quarter, and follow a landmark year for dining at the destination in 2024, with both spend and conversion rates for dining surpassing the regional mall benchmarks.