Captain D’s to open first U.K. location in summer 2025
A leading U.S. quick-serve seafood restaurant chain is expanding across the Atlantic Ocean.
Captain D's is partnering with CD’s Holdings as the ownership group that will bring the company’s restaurants to the U.K. and other European countries. A recent 20-unit master franchise agreement for the U.K., Captain D's first venture into Europe, is set to have its first location open in Kent in August 2025.
Other U.K. Captain D’s restaurants are scheduled to open in Sussex and Hampshire soon after. The principals of CD's Holdings are entrepreneurs with experience in the restaurant business, as well as other ventures, including security companies and accountancy firms in the U.K.
"We have been looking for the right brand to introduce to the UK market, which is exciting and healthy," said Naveed Chattha, operations director of CDs Holdings. "There is a large fish and chips market in the U.K., but no one has tried to apply discipline, standards, and quality to such a level here before. With our experience, we feel Captain D's is the right choice."
In 2024, Captain D’s announced its first-ever franchise development agreement in Canada, which will bring five locations to the Greater Toronto Area.
[READ MORE: Captain D's eyes global growth, appoints international development leader]
At the time the company also named fast-casual international operations veteran Hair Parra to the newly created position of senior VP of international operations and development to grow the brand globally.
CD's Holdings will open the first locations around London, and the brand is currently looking for more multi-unit franchisees to open additional locations in the U.K
"This is an exciting time in the growth of our brand," said Hair Parra, senior VP of international operations and development at Captain D's. "Our master franchisees are committed to making a sustainable impact in the UK, and we are committed to working alongside them and offering new opportunities to other entrepreneurs as we expand into new international markets."
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Captain D's has more than 530 restaurants in 23 states.
