Odyssey’s & Stories | The Morley’s Chicken Story By Morley’s Chicken
Here is another instalment in our Odyssey’s & Stories series. Up this time is an iconic London restaurant chain landmark, Morley’s Chicken.
The ‘fast food’ chain established in 1985 by Kannalingam (Indran) Selvendran in Sydenham. It has gone on to have over 40 stores across South London (recently branching out into London’s East End on the famous Brick Lane) part and parcel of the face of London. Iconic for being the place where the ‘hip’ hang out (people as cool as the rapper Stormzy have shot their music videos there and ourselves! We shot part of our ‘Drip Drip: Charles & The Best of Brick Lane’’ editorial in their new Brick Lane store, spot the shot here and our model is eating the legendary Morley’s Chicken wings in photo) and famed for their chicken wings (we must get that secret recipe). We like the chips too! Kannalingam (Indran) Selvendran thought that ‘fast food’ didn’t have to be dominated by American chains but rather should come from the local community. 35 years later he has achieved that and achieved it well. In conjunction with featuring them in our ‘Best of Brick Lane’ editorial, we did a spotlight feature on the Brick Lane edition of the franchise highlight why it is one of the best places to visit on Brick Lane. Read that here.
We reached out to Morley’s through the help of Aduba and asked them to share the story behind the chain that arguably does the best chicken wings in London.
Read on for that as put in their own words…
“We have been on the doorstep of London for more than 35 years when in 1985, Kannalingam (Indran) Selvendran swung the doors of his Sydenham store open and started his spirited venture into hospitality by initially opening a restaurant with takeaways, before moving to a takeout model with limited seating. He believed that ‘fast food’ didn’t have to be dominated by big American chains, but instead come from a local business in the community. Today, the principles that the brand was passionately built on, remain at the heart of everything we do. 35 years can change a lot of things, but they haven’t altered the drive to build a respected brand, a brand that still delivers the grassroots values that only a family business can preserve. But our family is broader than the nuclear version…..it is our support team, our staff, our established suppliers and our Supporters. We use the word ‘Supporters’ rather than customers as their faithfulness to Morley’s is a bond, stronger than a random purchase. They have created a cult like love for the brand and we in turn have replied by providing a place to call theirs where our Supporters are welcomed with warm service and a tender and juicy chicken menu stuffed with choice. Plump Thighs, Breasts and Drumsticks, full of flavour Spicy and BBQ Wings, Fillets, and Nuggets, all with the unique spicy flavour and breaded batter, the famous Triple M burger and the popular Wrap give a truckload of reasons why Morley’s is the WE ARE FAMILY 1st choice to a generation of Londoners…not to mention the secret barbeque sauce that is the knockout blow.”
More on Morley’s Chicken here.
Visit Morley’s Chicken on Brick Lane (60-62 Brick Lane, E1 6RF) when you are East.The vibe is good, the food is good and the name is iconic.
Thank you to Morley’s Chicken.