Miss Millie’s Opens 14th Restaurant in Colchester, Marking East Coast Debut
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A New Franchisee Brings the UK’s Original Fried Chicken Brand to Colchester High Street
In July 2026, Miss Millie’s celebrated the opening of its 14th restaurant, located at 10 High Street in the heart of Colchester city centre. More than a milestone in numbers, the launch marks the brand’s arrival on the UK’s East Coast and introduces the Miss Millie’s experience to a brand-new community in Essex.
Operated by a new franchisee, the Colchester restaurant occupies a prime site previously home to KFC. Spread across two floors, it offers seating for 60 diners alongside a dedicated takeaway area on the ground floor. Customers can also order through all major delivery platforms, including Uber Eats and Deliveroo.
To celebrate the opening, Miss Millie’s offered free chicken tenders to the first 100 guests, a warm welcome that reflects the brand’s commitment to building strong ties with each local community it joins.
The Colchester opening follows a series of new locations across the UK, including Newquay, Edinburgh, Southampton and Canterbury. Backed by a refreshed brand identity, a new recipe, and an ambitious growth strategy launched in 2025, Miss Millie’s continues to expand its footprint well beyond its South West roots, creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs looking to join a fast-growing food service brand.
Franchise Miss Millie’s
Founded in Bristol in 1988, Miss Millie’s is widely regarded as the UK’s original fried chicken brand. Its freshly prepared, hand-breaded chicken is coated in a secret recipe of 12 herbs and spices and served alongside burgers, wings, tenders and desserts. Combining nearly four decades of expertise with a modern identity, the brand is now growing across the UK through franchising.
Miss Millie’s – Chicken and ShakesBecome the Next Franchisee
Miss Millie's,
Hand‑breaded chicken with soul since 1988
Liquid capital : £100,000
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Bubble CiTea Welcomes New Franchise Partners
Bubble CiTea has welcomed experienced multi-brand franchise operators Sunil Joshi and his wife, Madhuri, to its growing franchise network.
The couple, who have a background in food and beverage franchising, will take over an existing Bubble CiTea corporate-operated kiosk at Festival Place in Basingstoke in the coming weeks.
The existing kiosk will be converted to Bubble CiTea’s new store design, creating a fresh and modern environment for customers while reflecting the continued development of the brand.
The new franchise partnership follows a successful recruitment process supported by external franchise consultant Krishma Vaghela, who worked closely with Sunil and Madhuri from the initial discussions through to signing the franchise agreement.
Finding the right franchise partner
For franchisors, successful franchise recruitment is about more than simply identifying an individual with the required investment. Finding the right profile for the brand is an important part of building a strong and sustainable franchise network. Sunil and Madhuri’s existing franchise experience, background in food and beverage franchising and approach to business made them a strong fit for Bubble CiTea.
Their plans also extend beyond their first location. The couple are looking to develop a multi-site Bubble CiTea operation, with future locations forming part of their longer-term growth strategy. Vaghela will continue to support the couple as they develop their Bubble CiTea portfolio, including helping to identify future locations that are right for both the brand and their business.
Continued UK expansion
The partnership comes as Bubble CiTea continues to expand its presence across the UK through both its corporate and franchise network.
The brand is BFA Accredited, demonstrating its commitment to recognised standards within the UK franchise sector and providing prospective franchise partners with additional reassurance when considering a Bubble CiTea franchise opportunity.
The Basingstoke location will mark the next stage of Bubble CiTea’s development in the South of England, with the new store design providing an updated customer experience and reflecting the continued evolution of the brand.
For Sunil and Madhuri, the Festival Place location represents the first step in their plans with Bubble CiTea, with further locations expected to follow as they build their portfolio.