Dave’s Hot Chicken accelerates its UK and Ireland rollout, targeting 20 restaurants by January 2027 as Azzurri Group prepares a wider European expansion.
US-born Dave’s Hot Chicken is targeting 20 restaurants across the UK and Ireland by the end of January 2027, as its master franchise partner Azzurri Group accelerates the brand’s expansion across Britain and prepares for a wider European rollout.
The Nashville-style hot chicken chain has been expanding rapidly since making its UK debut on London’s Shaftesbury Avenue in December 2024. Azzurri Group, the operator behind Zizzi, ASK Italian and Coco di Mama, secured development rights for 60 Dave’s Hot Chicken restaurants across the UK and Ireland, establishing the foundation for a nationwide rollout.
The brand recently reached its 17th UK and Ireland restaurant with an opening at Manchester’s Trafford Centre, its second location in the city. Further expansion is planned, with a new restaurant scheduled for Gateshead’s Metrocentre, followed by an opening at London’s The O2 in early December. Its second Irish restaurant, at Liffey Valley, is expected to open in mid-January 2027.
The latest openings will bring the chain closer to its target of 20 restaurants across the two markets by January.
Azzurri Plans 180 European Restaurants
Dave’s Hot Chicken’s international ambitions extend beyond the UK and Ireland. In September 2025, Azzurri Group secured exclusive development rights to introduce the brand across 10 European markets, with plans to establish at least 180 restaurants through partnerships with experienced local operators.
The territories include France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey. Poland, Hungary and Germany are among the markets being prioritised for the next phase of expansion.
Founded in 2017 in Los Angeles by Dave Kopushyan, Arman Oganesyan and Tommy Rubenyan, Dave’s Hot Chicken started as a small pop-up operation in an East Hollywood parking lot with an initial investment of just US$900. The business subsequently expanded through franchising, attracting celebrity investors including Drake, Samuel L. Jackson and Usher.
According to Azzurri Group’s 2025 annual report, Dave’s Hot Chicken had more than 350 operating restaurants globally, while franchise rights had been sold for over 1,370 locations across multiple markets. These figures underline the difference between its existing network and its longer-term development pipeline.
The brand was acquired by private equity firm Roark Capital in 2025 in a transaction reported to be valued at approximately US$1 billion.
With 60 UK and Ireland development sites and a separate 180-restaurant European growth commitment, Azzurri Group is positioning Dave’s Hot Chicken for a significant international expansion, taking the American fast-casual concept into new markets through local operating partnerships.
