A CHICKEN restaurant chain is spreading its wings to open a new business in Southampton.

Roosters Piri Piri is poised to create 18 jobs when it unveils its second outlet in the city in Shirley this month.

The restaurant – based in Shirley Road – will be its 40th branch in Britain and its eighth new shop in the last four months alone.

Bosses are putting the finishing touches to the store they hope to open in the week beginning Monday, August 19.

It has seating for 40 people and a menu boasting its flagship range of piri piri chicken and grilled meats, plus burgers, chips and vegetarian meals.

The company launched its debut Southampton restaurant in Portswood Road two years ago 18 years after setting up its first branch in Ealing Broadway in 1993.

They originally prided themselves as an “upmarket kebab shop” and have grown to a major player in London and the South East, challenging the huge chicken giant Nandos.

Roosters’ managing director Khalid Mirza said he is poised to recruit for a range of positions from managers to customer service and kitchen workers.

He added: “We are very excited.

“Our Portswood store has been very well received and we are looking forward to opening our second one.

“We are trying to give high quality food at affordable prices differentiating ourselves from our competitors “Shirley is in a good location because it has great parking.

“This benefits our drive-by market as people can park up and pick up a meal and go as well as eating here.”

Shirley ward councillor Satvir Kaur welcomed the new business and added: “It’s ideal in boosting the economy in Shirley.

“Many businesses are based in the city centre but we desperately need new firms in Shirley to breathe new life into the area and keep it vibrant.

“It will create new jobs at a time where there is not enough work and it’s great they are opening here.”