A chicken restaurant in Reading will be opening up to provide free meals for the needy on Christmas Day.
Manzanos Peri Peri at the Broad Street Mall will be open on the day to provide free meals for the homeless and those in need.
The owner, Asam Aziz, explained that he is doing the giveaway to break down barriers and emphasise community.
Mr Aziz said: “The reason we’ve decided to open on Christmas Day is to provide free meals for the homeless and for those who simply cannot afford one.
“In a time where negative attitudes towards Muslims and immigrants are increasingly visible, this initiative is about breaking down barriers and reminding people of our shared humanity.
“With austerity at an all-time high and many families struggling just to get by, we felt it was important to create a space where everyone is welcome — regardless of race, background, or religion.
“It’s a small effort to bring people together, foster understanding, and show compassion where it’s needed most.”
The giveaway will be taking place from 1pm to 4pm on Christmas Day.
People will be able to enjoy a free hot meal, dessert and drink available to the homeless and those in need for dine-in only.
There is no need to book in advance.
A poster for the event states: “The Prophet Muhammad once said: ‘The best of you are those who feed others’.”
Manzanos undertook a similar giveaway in 2019 and subsequent years.
The business first attracted headlines in 2018 during a naming dispute with the Nando’s restaurant chain.
It was previously called ‘Fernandos’, with Nando’s threatening a lawsuit claiming copyright infringement.
At the time, Mr Aziz argued the inspiration for the name came from the fictional island of ‘Fernando’s’ where couples from the ITV dating show Take Me Out go on holidays together.
The actual destinations where couples went were Tenerife and Cyprus.
The name of the business was changed to ‘Fernandez’ later that year.
The story attracted nationwide attention, receiving coverage by the BBC, the Daily Mail, LadBible, The Sun and The London Evening Standard.
Another legal threat from the Fernandez Grillhouse in Loughborough led Mr Aziz to change the name of the business a final time to ‘Manzanos’ in May 2019.
Fernandez in Loughborough was listed as permanently closed in June last year.
Meanwhile, the second Manzanos restaurant opened in the Fishponds area of Bristol three years ago in December 2022.
