Popeyes® UK and Manchester’s UN:IK Clothing are dropping an exclusive collab fusing bold Louisiana flavour with fresh Northern style ahead of their third Manchester opening — and they’re giving away free tees and Chicken Sandwiches to celebrate

Iconic fried chicken brand Popeyes® UK, famous for its bold New Orleans flavour and unmistakable Shatter Crunch texture, is teaming up with Manchester streetwear legends UN:IK Clothing for an exclusive merch drop that packs serious bite.

The collaboration fuses UN:IK’s fresh streetwear style with the bold energy Popeyes® is known for. The limited-edition graphic tee features an illustrated Popeyes® Chicken Sandwich and the phrase “Less Chat, More Crunch” – a nod to Manchester’s no-nonsense attitude and the legendary Shatter Crunch that’s made the Sandwich a cult favourite across the world. 

To launch the collab, 100 free tees and 100 Chicken Sandwiches will be given away to the first 100 people through the doors at Popeyes® Manchester Piccadilly on Thursday 14th August at 12pm. No sign-ups. No waiting lists. Just turn up early to claim the drip.

And there’s a reason Manchester’s getting the drop. With record-breaking overnight queues at the Piccadilly and Bury New Road openings, this city has made it clear: it’s obsessed with the Chicken Sandwich. So Popeyes® is giving back by bringing the city its own exclusive merch moment. 

Popeyes® UK has built a reputation for big flavours, bigger launches, and viral sandwich hype, with over 10 million Chicken Sandwiches now sold across the UK annually. This collab takes that cultural moment and makes it wearable – where food, fashion and attitude collide.

Born and bred in Manchester, UN:IK has earned its stripes with clean graphics, heavyweight fits and deep roots in the city’s creative scene. Designed and printed  in Manchester on 100% cotton, the tees show the same confidence in quality that Popeyes® brings to its menu everyday. UN:IK is deeply embedded in Manchester’s culture-rich creative scene, known for championing local talent and reflecting the city’s raw, authentic energy through streetwear.

After the giveaway, from Friday 15th August at 12pm, the t-shirts will be available to purchase at unikclothing.com for £34.00 – but with limited numbers dropping, they won’t hang around.

The drop lands just ahead of Popeyes®’ next Manchester opening later this summer in the Manchester Arndale, joining its existing locations at One Piccadilly Gardens and 288–292 Bury New Road. To celebrate, Popeyes® will be giving away free Chicken Sandwiches for a year to the first 3 people in the queue and free Chicken Sandwiches to the first 100 on launch day in the Centre. 

Mike Tinnion, Creative Director at Popeyes® UK said, “We are really excited to partner with UN:IK this summer to celebrate our ongoing love for Manchester. This city has shown us huge support and this partnership is our way of giving something special back. UN:IK shares our bold spirit and we couldn’t think of a better way to fuse food and fashion, Manchester style.”

Jake Messer, Owner of UN:IK, said: “This collaboration with Popeyes has been an exciting opportunity to blend two strong identities – our Mancunian roots and their bold New Orleans heritage. The ‘Less Chat, more Crunch’ tee captures a shared energy that’s confident and unapologetically original. Just don’t blame us if it makes you think about Popeyes chicken every time you wear it.”

Find Popeyes® UK at One Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester M1 1RG. To stay updated on the giveaway, visit the Popeyes® UK website or follow the brand on Instagram at @PopeyesUK or TikTok at @Popeyesuk.