The 2,709 sq ft drive-thru restaurant is operated by franchise partner K&Z Holdings and features seating for 72 customers.
KFC has returned to Waterlooville, Hampshire, with a new restaurant at Waterloo Park, strengthening its UK footprint through its franchise network. The restaurant opened on 26 October 2026, creating 40 jobs and bringing the fried chicken chain back to the town following the closure of its Cowplain branch in April 2024.
Located on Elettra Avenue, the 2,709 sq ft restaurant offers seating for 72 customers, alongside drive-thru and delivery services. The site is among the first in the UK to feature KFC’s latest restaurant design, including a dedicated waiting area for delivery drivers and a separate Kwench counter serving drinks such as iced coffees, Krunch Shakes, boba refreshers and sparkling lemonades.
The opening is operated by K&Z Holdings, a KFC franchise partner that has worked with the brand for 20 years. The company opened its first KFC restaurant in Hastings in 2006 and has since expanded its portfolio to 14 restaurants.
“Opening a new restaurant is always a special occasion for us, but this one feels particularly exciting as we celebrate 20 years of working with KFC,” said Shahaz Nanji, Managing Director of K&Z Holdings. He added that the business was proud to create local jobs, build a new team and bring the brand back to Waterlooville.
The restaurant’s menu includes KFC’s Tenders & Dips range, the limited-edition Mozzamelt Burger and Mozza Dipping Feast, alongside its wider fried chicken offering.
The opening forms part of KFC’s wider investment programme for the UK and Ireland. The brand has outlined plans for £1.5 billion in investment over the next decade, including the opening of 500 restaurants and the creation of more than 7,000 jobs across its business and supply chain.
KFC operates through a combination of company-run restaurants and franchise partners in the UK and Ireland, with multi-unit operators playing a significant role in its expansion strategy. The brand has more than 1,000 restaurants across the UK, according to its 2025 UK economic impact report.
The new restaurant is part of the wider Waterloo Park development, which also includes a Costa Coffee drive-thru and a forthcoming Aldi supermarket, adding to the retail and food-and-drink offering in the area.
