# BBC Report: The UK's First Chick-fil-A is to close amid LGBT rights row **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 18, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957 "2019-10-18T14:46:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/1 "2019-10-18T14:46:03Z")
[Link here](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-50094551): to be honest, I had not the faintest idea that there was a Chick-fil-A in the UK; and I’m not surprised that a chain with Chick-fil-A’s reputation ran into difficulty. For reference: Reading is an ugly sprawl of a grossly overgrown market town, home to the sorts of businesses which want to be\* near London\* (40 miles), but can’t justify the expense of being _in London_. One of those satellite towns. Ricky Gervais’ The Office was set in Slough, just down the road. j ETA: I see it opened eight days ago. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/2 "2019-10-18T15:16:40Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > For reference: Reading is an ugly sprawl of a grossly overgrown market town, home to the sorts of businesses which want to be\* near London\* (40 miles), but can’t justify the expense of being _in London_. One of those satellite towns. The Purple Turtle is a cracking pub/venue, so it’s got that going for it at least. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/3 "2019-10-21T13:09:18Z")
The lease was only for 6 months in the first place. This store was a pilot, to see if it would work in the UK. My sister, who was happy to be a customer there, says the store size and layout are inappropriate for a Chick-Fil-A. When asked about the this report, she said “Coincidence.” ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/4 "2019-10-21T14:25:20Z")
Several years ago, the outrage was that Chick-Fil-A was donating large amounts of money to far-right hate groups. I stopped patronizing them at that point. But I haven’t heard follow-ups. Are they still doing that? I know that the owner has right-wing Christian views that are not LBGTQ-friendly, but I’m not quite so outraged if he’s simply holding those beliefs and not giving money to groups supporting them. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/5 "2019-10-21T14:45:23Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > Several years ago, the outrage was that Chick-Fil-A was donating large amounts of money to far-right hate groups. I stopped patronizing them at that point. But I haven’t heard follow-ups. Are they still doing that? > > I know that the owner has right-wing Christian views that are not LBGTQ-friendly, but I’m not quite so outraged if he’s simply holding those beliefs and not giving money to groups supporting them. Yes, they provide large amounts of money to anti-LGBT groups. This article gives an overview of some of their projects in the process of debunking a claim that Chick-fil-a promoted a bill to allow the murder of gay people in Uganda. > **[Did Chick-fil-A Help Fund an Anti-LGBT Death Penalty Law in Uganda?](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/uganda-murder-gay-chick-fil-a/)** > > Viral tweets and Facebook posts drew a direct link between buying chicken sandwiches and killing LGBT people. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/6 "2019-10-22T09:57:45Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > For reference: Reading is an ugly sprawl of a grossly overgrown market town, home to the sorts of businesses which want to be\* near London\* (40 miles), but can’t justify the expense of being _in London_. Location of Microsoft and Mars UK Head Quarters. I pass no comment. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/7 "2019-10-22T13:41:42Z")
> [@consevepedia](#): > > Targeting by homosexual activists > Chick-fil-A is frequently the target of a boycott by liberals who dislike Christian organizations, including those that support the traditional definition of marriage. The activists made a mountain-out-of-a-molehill regarding a Massachusetts anti-same-sex “marriage” group getting catering from Chick-fil-A. This has upset social misfits dearly and homosexuals began organizing to boycott as a result. > > In July 2012, Chick-fil-A Chief Operations Officer Dan Cathy expressed his personal Christian opinion to a Baptist newspaper saying “guilty as charged” for the defense of traditional marriage. An avalanche of liberal outrage ensued and the so-called tolerant No-H8 crowd demanded future Chick-fil-A restaurants be banned in Chicago, Boston, and San Francisco. The Jim Henson Company canceled its contract to manufacture Muppets merchandise with Chick-fil-A. Liberals took to the internet to slander the chain as “bigots” and “haters”. > > Led by Mike Huckabee and the American Family Association, conservatives rallied and began a Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day on August 1, 2012, where more than 630,000 people signed up to support the event on Facebook and Chick-fil-A locations around the country were packed with patrons who came to support Cathy’s stand on traditional marriage and send a message to the forces of liberalism and political correctness. Pro-homosexual liberals held a childish “kiss-in” protest on August 3 at various Chick-fil-A restaurants as a protest of traditional marriage, which largely bombed as it drew barely any protesters. On the same day, one location in Torrance, California was targeted with graffiti by pro-homosexual vandals. An anti-abortion, anti-homosexual rah-rah Christian once offered to buy me a meal at Chick-Fil-A and “we can talk.” I informed him that I would pee my pants before going in there to use their bathroom. Hey, Chick-Fil-A is free to be anti-homosexual. I’m free not to patronize them. And to be a vegetarian who is happy at this bit of news. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/8 "2019-10-22T14:25:00Z")
Surprisingly, not all US fast food chains thrive in the UK. Wendy’s came and went rather quickly about 20 years ago, although they’re going to try again next year. Taco Bell is now trying to get a foothold; they’ve got three restaurants in the entirety of London and about two dozen across the country. Chipotle has struggled due to serious health code issues but is still hanging on (although there are other chains like Tortilla and Chilango doing the same thing better). I can’t say it upsets me that we aren’t overrun by more US fast food chains, but it does surprise me that some don’t last while Wimpy’s (which is dire) soldiers on. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/9 "2019-10-22T16:34:25Z")
I think our biggest problem with Chick-fil-A is how to pronounce it. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/10 "2019-10-22T16:37:59Z")
Hah! Should they rebrand overseas as Chick-FIL-et? ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/11 "2019-10-22T16:52:16Z")
I remember when the chain was new in my area (west Texas), around 1980, that the guy doing a promo for them on the radio pronounced it “chick filla.” ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/12 "2019-10-22T16:57:02Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > … Taco Bell is now trying to get a foothold; they’ve got three restaurants in the entirety of London and about two dozen across the country. … If I may say so, if the restaurants feature the same items as their American counterparts (Hello, bean burrito!) then you guys have hit the fast food junk food jackpot! ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/13 "2019-10-22T17:42:34Z")
Interestingly, there is a Chik-Fil-A dust up at my place of work, Purdue University. The students requested one and there’s a franchise scheduled to open soon in one of the University’s Public/Private partnership multi-use buildings. There were some on campus that were worried because they don’t follow the school’s anti-discrimination policies. The administration’s response to faculty concern has been, “Fuck yeah we’re getting a Chik-Fil-A. Maybe they hate the gays but have you tried their chicken?” The faculty senate passed a resolution stating that any business that comes onto campus has to adhere to our nondiscrimination policy, which like most of the things that come from the faculty the administration will happily ignore. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/14 "2019-10-22T17:57:52Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I think our biggest problem with Chick-fil-A is how to pronounce it. Chick feel ay. Any other way and they are doing it wrong! ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/15 "2019-10-22T18:27:11Z")
I’ve solved the problem when I decided to only patronize Chick-fil-A on Sundays. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/16 "2019-10-22T20:20:46Z")
> [@CelticKnot](#): > > The lease was only for 6 months in the first place. This store was a pilot, to see if it would work in the UK. Yes, and after six months, the landlord decided it was “the right thing to do” in not offering an extended lease. > [@](#): > > My sister, who was happy to be a customer there, says the store size and layout are inappropriate for a Chick-Fil-A. When asked about the this report, she said “Coincidence.” Does your sister have any expertise in this area other than, “Eats at fast food restaurants?” ---
**Author:** ![Treppenwitz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treppenwitz/32/3445_2.png) [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/17 "2019-10-22T20:33:57Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Yes, and **after six months, the landlord decided** it was “the right thing to do” in not offering an extended lease. [my bold] No, this is a misunderstanding: yes the lease was for an initial 6 months, but the decision not to extend it was taken [**eight days**](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/21/chick-fil-a-outlet-reading-to-close-in-lgbt-rights-row) after launch of the restaurant (I think I wrongly said 10 days earlier). People are being very coy about exactly why “the right thing to do” was to immediately decide that there would be no lease extension when it fell due. Evidently there were protests - I took the inference to be that this was enough to persuade the shopping centre management to make the announcement; but they haven’t made this clear themselves. j ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2019, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/18 "2019-10-22T22:51:22Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > [my bold] > > No, this is a misunderstanding: yes the lease was for an initial 6 months, but the decision not to extend it was taken [**eight days**](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/oct/21/chick-fil-a-outlet-reading-to-close-in-lgbt-rights-row) after launch of the restaurant (I think I wrongly said 10 days earlier). Thank you for the clarification. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/19 "2019-10-23T08:36:48Z")
> [@CurtC](#): > > I remember when the chain was new in my area (west Texas), around 1980, that the guy doing a promo for them on the radio pronounced it “chick filla.” Well, TBF, that’s how we’d pronounce it in the UK. They’ll need to bombard us with TV ads correcting our mistake if they ever want us to get it tight. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957/20 "2019-10-23T09:09:17Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > If I may say so, if the restaurants feature the same items as their American counterparts (Hello, bean burrito!) then you guys have hit the fast food junk food jackpot! I haven’t gone in because it’s Taco Freaking Bell but I suspect it’s much the same (in fact, menu [here](https://www.tacobell.co.uk/our-food)). The Chipotle\* model (which is really the Subway model but with assembly-line burritos instead of assembly-line sandwiches) is fairly popular, at least in London, but then the end product is a lot better than TB’s fare. \*Although I would recommend Chilango over Chipotle by a long way. Their hot sauces are quite flavourful. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bbc-report-the-uks-first-chick-fil-a-is-to-close-amid-lgbt-rights-row/841957.md?page=2)