Nando’s Denies Rumours It’s Leaving the UK after Brexit

After the Brexit results shocked half of Britain and most of the world, it appears that one of the biggest fears in the UK has been that South African fast-food chain Nando’s would leave its shores.

Nando’s – which launched in the UK in 1992 – has become such an institution there that most Brits think of the flame-grilled peri-peri chicken as being as English as scones and cream… and were therefore devastated after a spoof blog, earlier in the week, claimed that Nando’s would close all 333 of its UK branches if the Brits voted to leave the European Union (EU). The reason given was that food taxes would become too exorbitant.

After the results were announced Friday morning, social media became abuzz with rumours that Nando’s would exit the UK.

In the post on The Manchester Insider on Tuesday it (jokingly) said that local Mancunians had been queuing for hours to stockpile some of Nando’s most popular meals and that “one woman even offered to swap her baby for a bottle of garlic sauce”.

Many read only the headlines and took it seriously, jumping on Twitter to beg Nando’s to stay.

Nando’s reassured its fans last night that there was no need to panic: “Right, let’s put these rumours to bed. We are definitely staying in the UK!”

Most are unaware of the chain’s South African roots (founded in SA in 1987) – with many, including UK frozen food outlet Iceland believing the restaurant is Portuguese because of the fast food chain’s theme and description boasting “legendary Portuguese flame-grilled” meals on Google.

Iceland – which itself is not from Iceland – recently tried to engage Nando’s in some lighthearted banter, tweeting “unlucky lads” to Nando’s after the country Iceland scored an equaliser against Portugal in the Euro football tournament.

Nando’s tweeted back: “We’re South African… this is awkward”, to which Burger & Lobster said: “might wanna change ya google info then…”