Chicken & Blues

About Chicken & Blues

Chicken & Blues is a Bournemouth-based quick-service chicken restaurant concept developed by co-founders Joshua Simons and Steve Crawford. The business operates under Aviary Hospitality Group, which also runs the Flamingo Bar Café brand. Chicken & Blues opened its third restaurant in Christchurch in 2023 and also operates a food truck. The company has reported consistent like-for-like site revenue growth over a ten-year period and has explored new trading opportunities, including a breakfast trial at its Poole restaurant. Following substantial interest from prospective partners, it launched a franchise waiting list in March 2024. The proposed franchise model covers restaurants, takeaways, hybrid premises and express kiosks. However, in July 2026, management said it was still assessing whether franchising would be its preferred expansion route, while seeking further sites across southern England.

Why franchise with Chicken & Blues

• ✓Established Bournemouth chicken restaurant concept with three reported locations and a food truck.
• ✓Flexible proposed formats include restaurants, takeaways, hybrid premises and express kiosks.
• ✓Multi-unit development model designed for partners interested in operating at least three locations.
• ✓Expansion opportunities are being explored across major towns and cities in southern England.
• ✓Property search assistance is proposed, supported by an experienced hospitality management team.
• ✓The business reports a decade of annual like-for-like site revenue growth across its operations.

Investment breakdown

Minimum investment	£150,000
Franchise fee	£15,000
Management service fee	On request
Marketing contribution	On request
Agreement term	On request

What's expected of a franchisee

Property requirements

Chicken & Blues is considering restaurant, takeaway, hybrid and express kiosk formats, with premises ranging from approximately 800 to 2,500 sq ft. The business is targeting locations in Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, Weymouth, Salisbury, Brighton, Bath and Bristol. Support with identifying suitable properties is proposed. The information supplied does not specify frontage, seating capacity, extraction requirements, parking provision or minimum lease terms.

Training and support

Chicken & Blues says its senior management team brings decades of combined hospitality experience. Proposed franchise support includes assistance with identifying suitable restaurant locations and access to the team’s operational knowledge. The company has worked with agents to develop its franchise proposition, but the supplied information does not confirm a formal training programme, opening support schedule or ongoing service package. These details should be established before franchise recruitment begins.

Operational requirements

The proposed Chicken & Blues franchise model requires a minimum commitment of three units, with formats spanning restaurants, takeaways, hybrid operations and express kiosks. Prospective partners would need approximately £500,000 in available liquid capital and should be prepared to oversee multi-site development and restaurant performance. The company has indicated combined royalty and marketing charges of around 8% of net sales. Staffing, trading hours and operating standards are not specified.

Experience required

Chicken & Blues has not published specific franchisee experience criteria in the supplied information. However, its proposed three-unit minimum and £500,000 liquid capital requirement indicate a model aimed at well-capitalised operators capable of developing and managing multiple sites. Experience in hospitality, multi-site operations, property development or team leadership may be relevant, but none is expressly stated as mandatory. Applicants should confirm the selection criteria directly with the company.

Territory availability