Imagine my disappointment when I discovered Lord Street’s newest arrival would be KFC
11:01, 20 Sep 2025Updated 13:19, 20 Sep 2025
The upcoming KFC on Lord Street
Fast food companies have taken over the city centre and more are on the horizon. It’s not enough to have one outlet demanding attention on a street corner, for some reason, industry giants need to have at least two others just a stone’s throw away.
Lord Street was once one of the most prominent shopping zones in the city centre, rivalling Bold Street and Liverpool ONE in big name offerings. In recent years, unless you’re in the mood for some greasy grub, there are fewer reasons to visit.
An occupied unit will always beat an empty one left to crumble, especially in today’s unforgiving economic landscape. It hasn’t gone unnoticed, however, that many new arrivals are fast food chains.
Don’t get me wrong, I love a cheeky Big Mac or Whopper, but at what stage is the city centre overrun with the same concept? “It’s just business,” but it’s polluting the high street with replications that fail to bring interesting identity or appeal to their respective areas.
The refurbished McDonald’s on Lord Street.(Image: Andrew Teebay)
I’m not sure I’ve ever walked past an empty city centre unit and thought: “This really needs a new fast food business.” Nobody is disputing an occupied unit is better than a sad vacancy but you can still be critical at the extent of replication taking over the high street.
Around 68% of UK consumers say restaurants with international flair are more appealing, according to Unilever Food Solutions’ Future Menus report.
Younger generations, especially Gen Z and Millennials, are driving demand for chicken shops global flavours like burritos and tacos, and healthier menu options in the UK Fast Food Restaurants Market. In England, the number of fast food outlets rose from 98.3 per 100,000 people in 2017 to 115.9 per 100,000 in 2024.
Within a five minute walk of the Lord Street junction, there are four McDonald’s, three KFC, two Burger Kings, two Five Guys, two Chopstix, a Jollibee, a Wingstop and a Popeyes. Bill Addy, CEO of Liverpool BID Company, told the ECHO it’s not uncommon for these businesses to sprout up so close to one another simply to tackle demand.
Bill said: “You often find clusters of businesses develop because of proximity to nightlife, or a university, or cultural institution. Liverpool has a richly mixed-use city centre, which is also quite compact and walkable, so those different neighbourhoods, or places of different purpose, can be quite close to each other.”
The most notable food resident on Lord Street was Ed’s Easy Diner, an American restaurant that offered guests burgers, fries and shakes, but that bid farewell in 2019. Now, the street is lined with more food options than ever, with the city’s third KFC site opening in the former GAME building.
Asian snack box business Chopstix replaced Realbuzz activewear, Louisiana chicken chain Popeyes replaced EE phone network warehouse, and Dunkin Donuts replaced photography store Jessops.
Queues at Wingstop Liverpool(Image: christopher megrath)
Texan chicken chain Wingstop opened in the unit previously occupied by Laser Clinics UK, with two more restaurants already planned in further Liverpool locations despite it only having opened three months ago
McDonald’s, Burger King and KFC venues already litter the city, yet it feels like new openings won’t stop until there’s one on every corner. Bill added: “Liverpool is very much a 24/7 city, and it’s the responsibility of all the city stakeholders to help keep the city a safe and welcoming space for everyone, no matter what time of day or night.
“As a city we are home to many different cultures and communities, and many takeaways represent that rich diversity of food and drink. Many takeaways in Liverpool represent decades of heritage, which are celebrated on our city streets.”
The city centre junction was once full of independent shops and high profile brand names, but it’s now dominated by fast food chains found everywhere. The big three American giants – McDonald’s, Burger King, and KFC – have taken over, with smaller food spots fighting for the remaining trade.
When I visit another city, I’m always in awe of brands they pull that Liverpool is still without. It’s beyond me how the city centre is yet to claim a Flying Tiger essentials store, and only this year secured Sephora, POP MART and Anthropologie.
The upcoming KFC on Lord Street
I don’t mind any of the fast food chains in terms of offerings. What bothers me is the quantity in such close proximity to each other. The owner of chicken chain Nabzy’s, Nabeel Tabarik, recently admitted “there is no more room for us in Liverpool” as he prepares to open a new site in South Road in Waterloo, after already having multiple branches established in the likes of Norris Green, Anfield, Manchester and Chorley.
He told the ECHO: “We’ve got no locations left really in the city. Every three or four miles, you will find one of us, you will find a Nabzy’s. We are in most of the areas. When we look at new locations, there is none left for us now. It’s a totally different city here, everyone is so welcoming and of very good character.”
If you’re excited about KFC opening another site on Lord Street then I won’t steal your moment. I just think it’s incredibly unnecessary, but that’s just how business goes.
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