Wingstop will open six more shops in the UK this year, including one in Manchester.

In doing so, the chicken chain will add 300 jobs to its 2,500-strong workforce.

The fast-serve fried chicken chain is positioned as a premium alternative to KFC and has attracted celebrity fans including the rapper Stormzy.

The first Wingstop outlet was opened in the UK in 2018 by Lemon Pepper Holdings, the master franchisee of Wingstop here in the UK.

Wingstop to open in Bolton and Manchester this year

Since 2018, it has grown to 50 restaurants with the 50th location opening on Monday, August 19 at Middlebrook Retail Park in Bolton.

The opening will create 60 new jobs in the local area and Wingstop will be handing out free chicken wings to the first 100 customers.

Chris Sherriff, co-chief executive of Lemon Pepper Holdings, said: “Today is a significant day for Wingstop UK as we celebrate the incredible achievement of opening our 50th location in just under six years.”

Mr Sherriff said the milestone reflected Wingstop’s “commitment to creating meaningful job opportunities”.

He added: “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see so many individuals progress, taking on new challenges and advancing within the company.”

Entrepreneur Antonio Swad founded Wingstop in 1994 and its headquarters is in Dallas, Texas.

With more than 2,200 franchise locations worldwide, the chain claims it has served two million wings over the years.

The US company has a minority shareholding in Lemon Pepper Holdings.

It comes as Lemon Pepper Holdings separately explores the sale of the business, having appointed Goldman Sachs bankers to find new owners.

The potential sale process was first reported by Sky News earlier in August.

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It was kicked off in response to unsolicited expressions of interest from potential buyers.

Mr Sherriff added that the chain still has “untapped” potential across Britain and that it has ambitions to reach 200 sites within the next five years.

Lemon Pepper Holdings declined to comment on the reports of a sale.