Hey Chick! closes outlets amid tough trading environment

Belfast fried chicken specialist ‘Hey Chick!’ has closed its outlets in the city.

The business was started food entrepreneur pals Oisin Montgomery, Michael McKeown, Mark Craig and Joe Goudie.

Having strated as a pop-up hatch at the Botanic Inn in south Belfast in 2021 the business went on to establish itself at Common Market in the Cathedral Quarter and at Trademarket on Dublin Road.

The popularity of the pop-up business saw Triquetra Hospitality Ltd open a 30-seater Hey Chick! restaurant at 49 Botanic Avenue in September 2022.

Its is understood the chicken street food specialist ceased trading in April having become the latest hospitality business to fall foul of the high inflation environment in the sector post-Covid.

Sooty Olive in Derry, Broker in east Belfast, Clenaghan’s in Co Armagh are among the well-known venues to close in recent weeks.

A number of award winning fine dining restaurants, such as Blank in south Belfast and Deane’s EIPIC in Belfast city centre, have also been forced to close in order to relaunch with more affordable menus.