Cluck off! UK’s only remaining Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Scottish Highlands has closed
Food from Chick-fil-A. (Photo by: Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
The only Chick-fil-A in Scotland has shut its doors after facing a fierce public boycott.
The US chicken chain’s attempts at a UK expansion have been hindered by protests against its funding of anti-LGBT+ causes, which forced the closure of its landmark Reading branch.
Now the chain’s only other UK restaurant, inside the Macdonald Aviemore Resort in the Scottish Highlands, has also shut its doors.
Chick-fil-A branch in Scottish Highlands quietly closes.
A statement on the hotel’s website confirmed: “Our pop-up restaurant Chick-fil-A is closing on Saturday, January 18.”
The hotel had not previously described the restaurant as a temporary “pop-up”, saying of its launch in October: “Chick-fil-A has already proved very popular with our guests and we are happy to be able to provide this quality food expense as an option.”
A Chick-fil-A spokesperson said at the time: “Chick-fil-A is always evaluating potential new locations in the hope of serving customers great food and award-winning service.
“The Macdonald Aviemore Resort gives us an opportunity to learn and gain a stronger understanding of local consumer tastes and preferences as part of our ongoing exploration.”
A Chick-fil-A logo is seen on a take out bag at one of its restaurants on July 28, 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Macdonald Aviemore Resort did not immediately respond to a comment request from PinkNews.
The abrupt closure comes after a petition to the hotel chain attracted 1,200 signatures and support from Scottish parliamentarians.
Cluck off!
The petition’s creator Scott Cuthbertson, manager of LGBTI Scotland, celebrated the closure.
He told PinkNews: “Chick-fil-A is a company with a terrible record of supporting anti-LGBT+ causes.
“Many LGBT people in the Highlands and beyond expressed alarm at the opening of a restaurant with such a record, and values that went against all that we have achieved in making Scotland a better place for LGBT+ people.
“I want to thank everyone who signed the petition to tell Chick-fil-A to cluck off and hope Macdonald Hotels staff are now redeployed to ensure no job losses.”
Those to have previously hit out at the chain include Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harviem who had told The National: “I cancelled the reservations I had there as soon as I heard about this partnership.
“I’d urge my colleagues to do the same, until Macdonald end their commercial relationship with these sponsors of prejudice and hatred. [MSPs] have a particular responsibility to show leadership on these issues.”
