FAST food fans queued outside Barrhead's new and Scotland's first Popeyes for as long as 18 HOURS awaiting its opening.

The brand new eatery, which opened in the town’s retail park at 11am, saw avid fans join the queues for its opening from 4.30pm on Sunday, September 17.

Graham Welsh and John Russell were some of the first punters in the queue after arriving at 4.30pm and 7.30pm.

John said: “I’m a long-time fan of Popeyes.

Glasgow Times:

"I’ve been checking the Popeyes Instagram for news of a Scottish opening for two years and dreaming about this launch so had to come down early to be one of the first in the queue.”

American-born Cynthia Holden, who travelled from Clackmannanshire to be one of the first to try the new eatery, said: “My first job was in Popeyes when I was 16 so I’m a lifelong fan.

“I’ve been hounding Popeyes on Twitter to learn of the Scottish opening and being here today didn’t disappoint.

Glasgow Times:

“It was a little taste of home.”

The new restaurant is renowned for its chicken sandwiches and its famous shatter crunch chicken.

At the new store, they will also be dishing up various breakfast items.

To celebrate the launch of the breakfast menu they will be handing out free breakfast muffins to the first 25 cars and first 25 pedestrians in the queue on Tuesday, September 19 at 8am.

Neil Williamson, COO of Popeyes UK, said: “We thought customers queuing for 16 hours at Cardiff Bay last month would be impossible to beat, but the people of Scotland have set a new record with our first customer turning up a whopping 18.5 hours before opening.

"We’re delighted with the response we’ve had to our first Scottish restaurant and look forward to serving our famous Louisiana Chicken to many more.” 

Glasgow Times:

The eatery will bring flavours of Louisiana to Scotland, with its signature 12-hour marinated chicken and original Southern biscuits and gravy.

The new store has a dining area for 56 people, with 16 seats outside, as well as a drive-thru.