Liverpool ONE getting new chicken venue from famous faces as they say ‘we’re coming’
This is Liverpool’s first venue from the famous group
Gravity MAX is located at the top of Liverpool ONE in the former Debenhams building
YouTube sensations The Sidemen have unveiled their first-ever Liverpool location. Earlier this year, the ECHO reported on the group’s ambitious plans to expand its Sides fried chicken chain with 15 more restaurants in 2026, including a new branch in Liverpool.
The brand said it planned to further commit to the UK after witnessing “incredible momentum” and to open sites in new international markets. The YouTube collective consists of Olajide ‘JJ’ Olatunji (KSI), Harry Lewis (Wroetoshaw), Simon Minter (Miniminter), Vik Barn (Vikkstar123), Josh Bradley (Zerkaa), Ethan Payne (Behzinga) and Tobi Brown (TBJZL), and has 22 million subscribers.
They launched the brand in 2021 in partnership with Scottish-based food franchise firm Hero Brands. Since then, Sides expanded to five restaurants across the UK, in Essex, Manchester, London, Kent and Birmingham, and launched its first international site in Singapore last year.
It plans to rapidly grow with a raft of new openings, including “significantly” increasing its footprint across the UK.
The hot chicken specialist said it is planning to open new restaurants across Scotland, as well as in Cardiff. This week, Ethan Payne took to social media to reveal the city location. In a post shared to Instagram, Ethan said: “Gravity Max. Liverpool. We’re coming. Delectable, lovely chicken from The Sides.” In a questionable Scouse accent, he adds: “We’re coming lads.”
Gravity MAX Liverpool offers a wide range of attractions including electric go-kart racing, augmented reality bowling, digital darts, urban street golf, virtual reality experiences, batting cages, shuffleboard and arcade games.
It is already home to a number of food vendors including Wendy’s, Benni’s Pizza Joint, Jones Burgers and Birdies. An exact date of when Sides will join them has yet to be confirmed. The ECHO reached out to the Sidemen for further information.
Aaron Moore-Saxton, managing director at Sides, previously said: “This is all about doubling down on growth for Sides during 2026.
“We’re seeing incredible momentum in the UK and rising demand internationally, and that gives us real confidence in the next phase of our journey as we open new sites in Glasgow, Wales and Liverpool.
“Our expansion into India, Malaysia and the UAE is a further evolution for the brand, while our continued investment in the UK remains central to our strategy.”
In a joint statement, the Sidemen added: “We are seriously hyped to take this next step and bring even more people into our Sides journey.
“For us, it’s always been about bold flavours and great food, good energy and sharing moments that go way beyond and this is honestly just the start. We can’t wait to take you all along for what’s next.”
