US seafood restaurant chain Captain D’s is crossing the Atlantic to open its first UK store in August 2025.
The move is part of a 20-unit franchise agreement for the UK. The company has yet to reveal where the new location will be in Kent but has said restaurants will follow soon after in Sussex and Hampshire.
Headquartered in Nashville, Tennesse, Captain D’s opened in 1969 and now boasts more than 530 restaurants in 23 states. It serves a wide variety of seafood including battered and breaded fish, oysters and grilled options such as shrimp, tilapia and salmon, as well as chicken.
Captain D’s has partnered with CD’s Holdings, seasoned entrepreneurs with experience in the restaurant business, who are looking for more multi-unit franchisees to open additional locations in the UK and other European countries.
By entering the UK, Captain D’s says it is advancing its vision to become a global brand and introduce its quality seafood and hospitality to seafood lovers around the world. Offering seafood and chicken which resonates with a wide variety of guests, positions it for success in the UK and other international markets, it says.
Hair Parra, senior vice president of international operations and development for Captain D’s, comments: “This is an exciting time in the growth of our brand. Our master franchisees are committed to making a sustainable impact in the UK, and we are committed to working alongside them and offering new opportunities to other entrepreneurs as we expand into new international markets.”
Naveed Chattha, Operations Director of CDs Holdings, meanwhile, adds: ”We have been looking for the right brand to introduce to the UK market, which is exciting and healthy.
“There is a large fish and chips market in the UK, but no one has tried to apply discipline, standards, and quality to such a level here before. With our experience, we feel Captain D’s is the right choice.”
