Owners of newly-opened Yorkshire chicken shop 'shaken' by grotesque PETA protest
Owners of a Leeds restaurant have been left “shaken” as PETA activists staged a grotesque protest outside their newly launched chicken rotisserie on Wellington Street in Leeds.
On November 3, activists set up a rotisserie grill on the pavement behind the restaurant.
Dressed in a chef outfit, PETA campaigns manager Reuben Skeats pretended to spit-roast blood-smeared dolls while interacting with shocked passersby.
“We have families, we are not the people to fight against,” said Luigi Ragaglia, who opened Rotisserie Club alongside Norman Tafadzwa Dungwa in late October.
He said the protesters were “still free to be out there,” but added: “it isn't helping anybody; you're just killing another small business.”
“We are a very, very small business,” he said. “It is me and Norman, and we have a couple of staff.”
“We are a local independent,” he said. “We make coffees for people who work in the office and we make food for people who work in the office.”
“I'm really concerned that they picked us on basically our first week of business,” said Luigi, “I'm shaken. I had no idea that they were going to come out here and protest.”
The protest challenged the slaughter of chickens, which according to PETA, typically takes place at six weeks old.
“Whether they have feathers or fingers, babies don't belong on a rotisserie – or on our plates,” said PETA vice president Elisa Allen. “PETA urges anyone horrified by the thought of roasting a child will extend that same compassion to other animals too.”
The Rotisserie Club menu includes chicken-themed wraps, salad bowls, and wings, but does offer vegetarian alternatives.
“A new opening obviously draws a lot of attention,” said Mr Skeats. “It’s the perfect time to remind people that a new chicken restaurant isn’t happy for everyone.
“We saw plenty of shocked faces, double takes, and people stopping to see what was going on in Leeds today.”
“Our message to the business would be to opt for vegan food,” he added.