Captain D's Makes Waves in the UK with Its First-Ever European Restaurant Launch

Captain D's Grand Opening in the UK

On November 11, 2025, Captain D's, the legendary American seafood and chicken restaurant with a rich history dating back to 1969, proudly unveiled its first restaurant in the UK and Europe. This flagship establishment is located at the Westwood Cross shopping center in Broadstairs, Kent, and marks a monumental step in the company's international journey.

The grand opening attracted an enthusiastic crowd, with over 1,500 guests served on the very first day. Patrons lined up early to experience Captain D’s famed Nashville-style fish and chips. The new restaurant embodies an inviting and modern coastal theme, featuring contemporary designs and a menu packed with crowd favorites, including hand-battered fish, golden shrimp, crispy chicken tenders, and the hallmark hush puppies.

Daryl Stutchbury, CEO of Captain D's UK, expressed immense pride and excitement at the event, stating, "This grand opening is a moment of pride and excitement for us. The overwhelming public response has exceeded all expectations. We're thrilled to have served over 1,500 meals of fish and chips just on opening day."

The celebration, which took place on October 20, 2025, was graced by notable guests, including council member George Rusiecki from the Conservative Party and Qaisar Abbas, the 49th mayor of Thurrock, who performed the official ribbon-cutting ceremony. High-ranking executives from Captain D, including Brad Reed, director of development, and Hair Parra, senior vice president of operations and international development, traveled from the United States for the occasion.

Parra commented, "The success of our debut in the UK underscores the global interest in high-quality seafood and a welcoming family-friendly experience. This is just the beginning of Captain D's expansion across Europe and beyond."

The Broadstairs location is just the first of 20 planned restaurants in the UK, with new sites already in development in Sussex and Hampshire. Captain D's operates over 530 restaurants across 23 states and three countries, being recognized as the leading casual seafood dining chain in the United States and named the number one seafood chain in the QSR 50 rankings for average unit volume.

Having been founded over fifty years ago, Captain D’s remains dedicated to serving its customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming environment. The expansive menu includes freshly prepared main dishes along with its signature hand-battered fish, premium grilled options like shrimp, salmon, and white fish, alongside corn fritters, desserts, and sweet tea—a Southern favorite.

For more information on Captain D's and global expansion opportunities, potential investors can visit Captain D's Franchising. To learn more about the restaurant chain, visit Captain D's.