An American fried chicken franchise is set to return to the UK after its first opening in Reading was hit by protests over its owners' stance of LGBTQ+ issues. 

Chick-Fil-A has shared there will be a handful of locations coming to the UK due to a £74 million investment.

New branches will open in London, Liverpool, Leeds, and Belfast. 

The fast food chain had opened a trial branch in The Oracle in Reading in October, 10, 2019.

The opening prompted Reading Pride campaigners to call for a boycott of Chick-Fil-A, and more than 100 people protested outside the branch in The Oracle less than a week later. 

The protests focused on the founders' support for Christian groups that opposed to same-sex marriage.

(Image: NQ)

The firm is still run by the Cathy family, which founded the company. 

It appointed its first head of diversity in 2020. 

In a statement to The Reading Chronicle at the time of the protests, a Chick Fil-A Inc. spokesperson said: "We understand and appreciate that people will have questions about our company and want to be clear that Chick-fil-A is a restaurant company focused on food, service and hospitality.

"We do not have a political or social agenda, and our brand is represented by more than 145,000 people from different backgrounds and beliefs.”

The chain announced that the pilot restaurant in Reading would not remain open beyond its six month lease. 

In the US, Chick-Fil-A is the third biggest fast-food restaurant chain where you’ll find menu items such as a chicken sandwich, nuggets and waffle fries, reports Sky News.

With licensed franchises, the restaurant chain hopes to create 400 jobs in the UK through the openings of the new restaurants.