Radar: Popeyes to open on North Bridge

Popeyes is all set to open a new city centre restaurant at 46 North Bridge in Edinburgh (where the Cashmere store once was), expanding its Scottish presence with a 60-cover site. The Louisiana fried chicken brand confirmed the move on 7th October 2026, targeting footfall along one of the capital’s busiest arterial thoroughfares connecting the Old Town and New Town.

The announcement marks another rapid move across Scotland for the fast-food brand.

Diners can expect the brand’s complete Louisiana-inspired lineup, including 12-hour marinated chicken, buttermilk biscuits with Cajun gravy, and the Shatter Crunch Chicken Sandwich that generated viral queues across the UK.

Popeyes is expanding at a time when we’re seeing Pizza Hut close across the city (EDITOR NOTE: we’re sure this is just a coincidence and nothing more than an astute observation from Girdy) as diners pick spice and protein.

Louisiana Crunch on North Bridge

The North Bridge location sits on the western edge of Edinburgh’s Old Town, roughly a five-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley railway station’s northern and southern exits. The site directly faces the constant pedestrian flow moving between Princes Street, the Royal Mile, and the university district. Inside, the 60-cover dining room will cater to high-turnover commuter trade and sit-in visitors looking for quick dining near Waverley.

Popeyes UK Chief Executive Tom Crowley highlighted the capital’s initial reception as the primary catalyst for the new address:

Edinburgh has given Popeyes such an incredible welcome, so we’re delighted to be growing our presence in the city with a new North Bridge restaurant.

The company has not yet pinned down the exact opening date, though fit-out work is scheduled over the coming months.

Things to do in City Centre

North Bridge sits within central Edinburgh, making it easy to pair casual dining with nearby culture, shopping, and travel hubs.

• Transport: Edinburgh Waverley railway station sits at the foot of the bridge. Travellers arriving from Glasgow, Newcastle, or London can book cross-border journeys through Trainline. Lothian Buses run extensive routes over the bridge, with direct connections towards the Southside, Leith, and Princes Street.
• Restaurants & Cafes: If you want something local alongside American fast food, the surrounding closes host speciality coffee houses like The Milkman on Cockburn Street and independent bakeries tucked down Fleshmarket Close.
• Shopping: Princes Street and the St James Quarter lie just across the bridge to the north, offering high-street and designer retail, while independent bookshops, vintage clothing outlets, and printmakers populate Cockburn Street.
• Accommodation: Visitors staying centrally can browse boutique Old Town rooms and serviced apartments around the Royal Mile on Booking.com.
• Delivery: When the restaurant launches and city centre queues peak, hungry diners staying nearby can skip the pavement wait by checking menu availability for doorstep drop-offs on Deliveroo.

For your Radar

Popeyes has secured 46 North Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1QN for a brand-new 60-cover restaurant. Five minutes from Waverley Station, the venue will bring southern fried chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and Louisiana seasoning to Edinburgh’s busiest central commuter corridor. Opening dates will follow as interior fit-out plans progress.