See inside the first Popeyes drive-thru in the North East which is all set for its big opening

The first Popeyes drive-thru in the North East is all set for its big opening on Wednesday morning when huge queues are expected to turn up at the new County Durham site.

The US fast food favourite, famed for its Louisiana-style fried chicken dishes, will be opening both a drive-thru - a new addition for the region - and a restaurant on the revamped Bishop Auckland site. Long lines of Popeyes fans turned out for the launch of Popeyes' first local restaurant, at Gateshead's Metrocentre in 2022, and now - given the growing excitement ever since the drive-thru plans were announced in January - the chain expects similar scenes at its smart new venue in Fieldon Bridge retail park - especially with free food being up for grabs.

First customers in both the dine-in restaurant and drive-thru queues on Wednesday will have a chance of winning Southern fried chicken sandwiches for a year. And there will be freebies on the day for other early arrivals too.

The actual opening time will be 8am opening time. From the following day, March 14, the new Popeyes breakfast menu also will be available at the outlet.

A top buy is expected to be its £1.99 bacon roll meal, which includes a hash brown and a drink. For more about the new Popeyes, which also offers delivery, keep an eye out here.

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