17 Nov 2025
A much-loved name in fried chicken is coming to St Albans, as Chicken George Jnr prepares to open its first city restaurant in The Maltings Shopping Centre.
Their new venue will be on the corner of the centre recently occupied by Locked Rooms – opposite flagship SADC development Jubilee Square.
It’s a spot that holds special meaning for owner Chris Cheah: “When I was a kid growing up in Luton, me and my mates used to jump on the bus from Stockwood Park, through Redbourn into St Albans.
“We’d head straight to the old Pizza Hut at The Maltings for the £5 all-you-can-eat lunch buffet before going to the swimming pool.
“We were just young lads having a laugh, and now, all these years later, to be opening a Chicken George Jnr in that very same spot is honestly pretty cool.”
The family-run brand, which started in Luton more than 40 years ago, has built up a cult following for its award-winning wings, loaded fries and bold, creative flavours. With
successful sites already in Bedford and Hitchin, the new St Albans restaurant will be the latest step in Chicken George’s growing story, and one that feels like it’s come full circle.
Fried chicken has always been in the Cheah family’s blood.
Back in the 1970s and ’80s, George Cheah Snr (affectionately known as the Original Chicken George) worked for KFC, helping open some of the first branches outside of London. Those early days gave him a deep understanding of what great fried chicken and great service really meant. In the early 1980s, George decided to build something of his own – a place where food meant more than just a transaction and put people, flavour, and genuine community spirit at its heart.
That same spirit still runs strong today with his son, Chris Cheah (Chicken George Jnr), carrying the community-first torch forward. Chris says The Maltings felt like a
natural move and a chance to return to familiar streets and be part of a vibrant local hub that shares the same energy and passion that Chicken George was built on.
Chris said: “We’ve known Richard, the centre manager at The Maltings, for a while now, and we did the Summer Sounds event with him that had such a great vibe and real community feel. What really stood out was how passionate Richard is about The Maltings – in the same way we’re passionate about what we do at Chicken George.
“When the chance to move into this location came up, it was a no-brainer. It had to be this one. We cannot wait to bring our award-winning fried chicken to St Albans and be part of The Maltings family.”
The new restaurant, at the Victoria Street entrance of the shopping centre, will serve the brand’s trademark crispy chicken, burgers, wraps and loaded fries, with a relaxed
eat-in and takeaway format.
Maltings centre manager Richard Marrett added: “We’re delighted to welcome such a well-loved food brand to The Maltings. Chicken George already has a fantastic reputation locally, and many St Albans residents will know and love it from nearby towns and St Albans City FC, so we’re thrilled to bring that flavour and excitement right into the heart of the city.”
Hugo Harding from Kirkby Diamond, the letting agent working with The Maltings, said: “Chicken George’s arrival will attract new visitors to both the centre and St Albans more broadly, adding to the area’s vibrant food scene. We’re also excited to see how Chicken George transforms the unit, as their distinctive designs always create an engaging customer experience. We believe this will be a highly successful location for them.”
The opening is planned for early 2026. For updates, visit www.chicken-george.co.uk and follow @chicken_george_jnr on social media.
