AN OPENING date has been revealed for the latest restaurant to join Basildon as part of a boom in business at Festival Leisure Park.

Slim Chickens - an American fast-food restaurant - will open its doors on November 27, bosses have confirmed, replacing the former Firejacks restaurant.

Firejacks closed in May 2023 and the site has remained empty ever since.

The exciting news comes ahead of construction work beginning next year on a new Wendy’s drive through alongside a Costa drive through.

Jessica Power, councillor for jobs, skills and local economy at Basildon Council, was delighted to hear the news.

She said: “It is great to see businesses are attracted to and wanting to open in Basildon.

“We are striving to improve the offer of retail, hospitality and leisure across the borough.

“I look forward to a lot more in the future.”

The American brand is known for its hand-breaded, buttermilk-marinated tenders, crispy wings, and freshly-made sandwiches.

This month, two new planning applications have been submitted to finalise the finer details of both the new Wendy’s and Costa businesses.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that work is set to start towards the end of 2024 in the hope of construction being complete in early 2025.

The units would then be handed over to Costa and Wendy’s to be fitted out ahead of opening.

Doors will open at new Slim Chickens at 11am on November 27, with the first 30 guests through the door receiving a complimentary serving of three pieces of chicken tenders.

To celebrate Slim Chickens’ opening it will also be handing out 5,000 golden tickets to its first customers, offering the chance to win a range of prizes including free Slim Chickens for a year.

Basildon Council’s new administration previously stressed how a “key priority” is to “put businesses first”.