Chopstix Sheffield: 'Huge food giveaway' at launch of fast food chain fails to draw Spudbros-size crowd
An offer of free food for the first 100 people through the door at a new fast food chain in Sheffield failed to draw in crowds today.
Coming just weeks after a flock of over 400 people queued in the rain for the opening of Spudbros, many would have expected the same enthusiasm for the launch of Chopstix this morning (December 11).
However, despite opening right next door to Spudbros and promising a free meal to its first 100 customers, today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony had considerably less fanfare.
At 10.45am, just two people were waiting outside to be the first through the door. By 11am, the gathering had grown to 11.
The first customer, a woman who arrived at 10.35am, told The Star: “I’m a bit shocked. I didn’t expect to be the first here.
“I thought it would have been queueing right around near Burger King.
“I tried Chopstix once in Butlins and I really enjoyed it so I thought I’d come down to get some today.”
Another man told The Star: “I expected a much bigger queue. I walked past the queue when [Spudbros] opened and it went around the block and back again.”
The opening today was attended by social media personality ‘Big John’ Fisher, known for his love of Chinese food and ‘bosh’ catchphrase.
Other nearby fast food rival on or close to Fargate include Burger King, McDonald’s, Wendy’s and German Doner Kebab.
Chopstix closed a branch at the Berkeley Precinct on Ecclesall Road in 2024. The fast food chain had been popular with students.
But a branch aopened at Meadowhall Shopping Centre on October 17, 2025.
The new noodle bar is the first permanent resident at 10-12 Fargate in years. It was previously a Carphone Warehouse but has since only occasionally opened as a factory outlet or a Christmas decoration store.