US fast-food chain, Chick-fil-A, officially opened its first London restaurant in Kingston this morning (Thursday, 5 March).

Opening at 10am on Thursday, the restaurant saw queues of people, some waiting from 6.45am, eager to check out the new store and try its infamous food, especially as the first 100 guests at the opening were treated to free food and merchandise, including a tote bag, beanie, and coffee cup.

Speaking about the opening, one eager customer, who was among the first in the queue before 7am, said: "I'm really excited. Chick-fil-A's a great addition to Kingston's high street.

"So now we've got Wendy', GDK, McDonalds, and we've got Wagamama's, so the high street's really lively at the moment and great for the summer.

"Everyone's excited for the opening. Locals are really happy and it just means more business for Kingston's high street, which is fantastic.

While queuing, guests were invited to try free samples of the restaurant's homemade lemonade, which consists of lemons, sugar, and water, and is super refreshing.

Guests of the grand opening can enjoy Chick-fil-A's Original Chick-fil-A^® Chicken Sandwich, made with real, whole boneless breast of chicken and hand-breaded throughout the day, along with its signature hand squeezed Lemonade, milkshakes, freshly prepared salads ‑and grilled chicken options. 

Guests can find the full UK menu here. 

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This milestone follows the successful opening of Chick-fil-A's first locally owned and operated UK restaurant, which opened in Leeds last October. 

Despite being vegetarian and cautious about having fast food so early in the morning, I did try the chain's waffle fries with its infamous Chick-fil-A sauce and a Cookies 'n Cream milkshake.

Chick-fil-A's waffle fries and Cookies 'n Cream milkshake (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

The whole meal was delicious, and I definitely will not be needing lunch later.

Located in the site of the former HSBC bank on Eden Street, Chick-fil-A's Kingston restaurant has two floors.

The first consists of a large seating area and till area for ordering. The room is spacious and each table has red flowers in a vase – a staple for the chain.

Chick-fil-A's seating is embroidered with waffle fries (Credit: Tilly O'Brien)

All sofas also have waffle fries embroidered in the fabric and some of the tables were made by ex-convicts in rehabilitation to help them get into work upon leaving prison – something that appears in all Chick-fil-A restaurants.

While the new Kingston restaurant will be fully run by locals, some staff from the chain's main location in Atlanta have flown over this week to help train the new staff.

Among the US team was Chelsea Lee, who told Nub News: "We are thrilled to be here in Kingston and see so many people queueing up for the opening. We're super excited to serve the people of Kingston."

Chick-fil-A, Inc. has selected Connor Ashford as Kingston's local Owner-Operator.

As an independent business owner, Ashford will lead the restaurant's operations, hire local talent, and build partnerships with local organisations and charities within the Kingston community. 

To help make a positive impact, Ashford will be participating in the Chick-fil-A Shared Table programme, a food donation programme in Kingston to help fight food insecurity and support local people in need. 

Participating Chick-fil-A restaurants prepare and package their surplus food for donation to local organisations to serve those in need.

In celebration of the restaurant opening, Chick-fil-A has donated £25,000 to Moving on Together, to support its services dedicated to helping those affected by addiction and hunger across the borough.

Speaking about the opening, Ashford said:" I'm so blessed to be in the restaurant and so excited to serve the people of Kingston. We have an amazing team and we're really excited to have a long-lasting impact within the community."

However, not everyone is as excited about Chick-fil-A's expansion into the UK.

Taking to the picket line at 10am on Thursday, human rights campaigner and leader of the Peter Tatchell Organisation, Peter Tatchell, led a protest challenging the company over its alleged past funding of organisations that oppose LGBT+ equality.

Joined by fellow members and a man dressed in a blow-up chicken costume, Tatchell began the protest announcing that Chick-fil-A is "anti-gay".

After giving an insight into his three-year campaign against the food giant, Tatchell shouted to those queuing up for the opening "Hey Ho, Chick-fil-A must go".

However, this was responded by boos from Chick-fil-A's customers.

Speaking to Nub News about his campaign, Tatchell said: "We're here outside Chick-fil-A in Kingston today to highlight the fact that this company helps fund organisations that oppose LGBTQ+ equality, including opposing same sex marriage and supporting conversion practises to change a person's sexuality or gender identity.

"It also supports organisations that work to stop a cordial law that would protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. It's an anti-human rights company, and we have tried to have a dialogue with Chick-fil-A.

"But they won't meet us. They won't even answer our letters. So that's why we're here to say, Chick-fil-A is not the right kind of organisation that should be operating in the UK. It's using some of its profits to fund campaigns which harm the LGBTQ+ community."

He added: "The key thing we want is for Chick-fil-A to give assurance, that in future, it won't fund anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns.

"If it did that, we would call off the campaign, but it refuses to do so. We've asked this very simple question. Will you give assurance that in future, you won't fund anti-LGBTQ+ campaigns?

"But they won't even answer. So, we take that as a no and that they probably will fund those campaigns in the future."

Chick-fil-A's Kingston restaurant is open from 10am – 10pm Monday to Saturday.

The restaurant will be closed on Sundays, a tradition that dates back to Chick-fil-A's founder Truett Cathy, who wanted to give his Team Members a day off to do what they love, whether that is spending time with friends and family or worship if they choose – and it continues to honour that sentiment today.