Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 15 November 2023

A FORMER chicken shop in Hinckley can now be used as a pop-up place of worship.

That is the former Louisiannas Fried Chicken in The Crescent, which was owned by Apprentice star Joanna Kirk and her husband Leon, before closing in June 2018.

It was last used as a temporary construction site by contractors in August 2019 when works were underway on transforming the neighbouring then-vacant shop into a new Coventry Building Society branch, when they made the move over from Regent Street.

The idea of it being transformed into a place of worship has been made a reality by Faithful Global. According to a sign posted on the inside of the unit, the group specialise in “turning empty spaces into worship places”.

On their official website, Faithful state they are a national start-up who are working alongside commercial property specialists to utilise vacant properties to deliver space for worship across the country, to create “free spaces for worship and prayer”.

The same website says they have three more locations locally, though the listings do not do specify where, and all simply say they are in close proximity to the complex.

The sign was quietly placed inside the unit on Monday (13 November) when one of their representatives was given access by a security guard working for The Crescent.

Louisiannas, which is 1,378 sq ft, can be booked out for a private worship session through a portal online.

A spokesperson for Faithful was approached by the Hinckley Free Press for further comment, but did not answer our request at the time of publication (15 November).

As high street and shopping centres evolve, it is not unusual to temporary or permanent uses other than retail. Other religious groups have taken over properties for outreach use across the country.