A POPULAR food business which specialises in chicken nuggets served from a refurbished shipping container is returning to Essex after finding a permanent home. 

Nugs proved a huge hit with residents when it opened in Progress Road as a pop-up business earlier this year - with customers queuing down the road to try the nuggets and sauces. 

Owner Reis Esiroglu has revealed that the business will return to the same spot in Progress Road with a new shipping container and expanded menu by mid-November after securing a deal to stay permanently. 

Shipping container - The Nugs spot in Progress Road Shipping container - The Nugs spot in Progress Road (Image: Reis Esiroglu)


The business is launching a sign-up offer which will give customers ten per cent off their first order once they open. 

Following the success the pop-up received and the praise for its range of delicious gluten-free products, Reis has thanked Eastwood and Leigh residents and promised an expanded Nugs experience.

Hard at work - Nugs over the summer Hard at work - Nugs over the summer (Image: Reis Esiroglu)

He said: “It’s going to be a slow work-in-progress and what we are going to do is a more fleshed-out menu with sides, which we were not able to do as we were prepping in Romford. 

“We will kick off with sides and be adding burgers, wraps and milkshakes.

“That is something we will announce when we are set up.

“We have had about three or four messages a day since August from people asking when we are coming back and we know it will be crazy, we have had hundreds of sign-ups for people wanting ten per cent off their first order.

“It will be mental.”

The business was keen to return to Progress Road after forging close ties with nearby businesses Taps Cocktails and Leigh Brewery.

Reis said: “We are in the same spot in Progress Road. The reason we stuck here is it is right in the middle of Rayleigh, Leigh, Benfleet and Southend and it is so easy for people to park up.

“We have a huge car park and Leigh Brewery, so if people want to get their Nugs and grab a beer, we are close, it is good to stick here.”

Reis added: “We cannot thank the people of the area enough for being so supportive and so nice and being so patient.

“We have been working through the summer to get something ready.”