The Sidemen, a YouTube collective with 22 million subscribers, has announced plans to open 15 new Sides fried chicken restaurants in 2026. The expansion includes new UK locations and the brand's first ventures into India, Malaysia and the UAE.
The announcement marks significant growth for Sides, which launched in 2021 in partnership with Scottish-based food franchise firm Hero Brands. The chain currently operates five restaurants across the UK in Essex, Manchester, London, Kent and Birmingham, with its first international site opening in Singapore last year.
UK and international expansion
New UK locations will include multiple sites in Scotland, as well as restaurants in Cardiff, Liverpool, Glasgow and Wales. Internationally, the brand will expand beyond its existing Singapore site to India, Malaysia and the UAE.
Aaron Moore-Saxton, managing director at Sides, said: «This is all about doubling down on growth for Sides during 2026.» He highlighted strong performance in existing markets: «We're seeing incredible momentum in the UK and rising demand internationally, and that gives us real confidence in the next phase of our journey as we open new sites in Glasgow, Wales and Liverpool.»
Sidemen's vision for growth
The YouTube collective, consisting of Olajide 'JJ' Olatunji (KSI), Harry Lewis, Simon Minter, Vik Barn, Josh Bradley, Ethan Payne and Tobi Brown, expressed enthusiasm about the expansion. In a joint statement, they said: «We are seriously hyped to take this next step and bring even more people into our Sides journey.»
They added: «For us, it's always been about bold flavours and great food, good energy and sharing moments that go way beyond and this is honestly just the start. We can't wait to take you all along for what's next.»
Moore-Saxton emphasized the dual focus of the expansion strategy: «Our expansion into India, Malaysia and the UAE is a further evolution for the brand, while our continued investment in the UK remains central to our strategy.»
The Sides expansion comes amid broader growth in the UK chicken restaurant market, with brands including Popeyes, Wingstop and Dave's Hot Chicken also seeking to increase their presence across the country.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
