Work has begun for a new chicken shop in St Albans that will face plenty of competition.

Nationwide chain Pepe's Piri Piri is opening a new franchise at 220 Hatfield Road, with work commencing recently.

The unit formerly housed long-standing Golding's Tailors, which moved its business to St Stephens after 61 years of work in the city.

A statement on the Pepe's website reads: "We love chicken. We love it so much that we want all our customers to experience fresh grilled piri piri chicken which is freshly prepared to eat in or for you to take home.

"Our menu is freshly cooked and infuses the taste and flavours which are specially created for Pepe's."

Pepe's joins the long list of chicken shops and takeaways on the street, including Favorite Chicken St Albans, Tings and Wings, and Peri Peri Original.

The St Albans branch will add to its 209 shops across the UK serving chicken wings, burgers and wraps marinated with the special Piri Piri spice mix.

The new Pepe's Piri Piri frontage.The new Pepe's Piri Piri frontage. (Image: Submitted) A sign printed above the unit states "OPENING SOON!" and "NOW HIRING" requesting applicants to send CVs to stalbans.hatfieldroad@pepestores.co.uk.

The chicken shop was unable to confirm a specific opening date, but a spokesperson said that it would "before the end of this year" with work "already starting".