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Photograph: London Museum
Morley’s, the beloved fried chicken chain founded by a Tamil immigrant and now firmly woven into the cultural fabric of London, is set to have its original shop sign displayed at the London Museum’s new Smithfield site in 2026.
The move marks a milestone in the story of one of Britain’s most iconic Tamil-owned businesses.
The sign, from Morley’s first shop opened in 1985 by Kannalingam "Indran" Selvendran in Sydenham, south-east London, will feature in the museum’s Hanging Out exhibition. The display celebrates the social spaces that have brought generations of Londoners together. Few have done that quite like Morley’s.
‘You live for this kind of moment’
The family-run business, which began as a single shopfront, now boasts over 100 outlets across London and beyond, gaining a cult following and celebrity fans along the way.
Speaking about the museum’s decision, Morley’s CEO Shan Selvendran, Indran’s son, said having the business included as part of London's history was “the most amazing thing that’s happened to this business… and to a community that built us.”
“Although his unexpected passing meant he wasn’t here to see just how far we’ve grown, Dad’s vision lives on—and it means the world to see our story being recognised by the London Museum,” he added. “Morley’s means so much to so many people – as part of their own lives and heritage – so this moment is also for everyone who has been a part of that journey.”
Asked what his father would have thought, Shan replied: “I think he’d be stunned… You live for this kind of moment where everything you’ve worked for and effectively what he gave his life for is being celebrated in such a prestigious heritage-driven place.”
An immigrant legacy
Indran Selvendran arrived in the UK from Colombo in the 1970s and opened the first Morley’s a decade later. Like many Tamil immigrants fleeing the armed conflict in Sri Lanka and rebuilding their lives abroad, he started from scratch. Over the years, his business became a launchpad for other diaspora entrepreneurs, many of whom continue to run Morley’s franchises to this day.
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Photograph: The opening of the first Morley's in Sydenham. Morley's
“My dad was considered someone who opened a lot of doors for others,” Shan reflected. “To this day I’ll meet the children of the franchise owners and hear nice words about how he gave them opportunities.”
Though Indran passed away in 2002, the chain has remained family-run and community-focused. Shan still runs the business from south London, which remains “the heart of our business, with the largest cluster of Morley’s stores.”
Cultural icon and community cornerstone
Beyond food, Morley’s has become a cultural symbol. It has featured in music videos from Stormzy’s Big For Your Boots to Krept’s Morley’s Freestyle, served as the backdrop for comedy series like Chicken Shop Date, and even appeared in Netflix’s Black Mirror. This visibility has helped cement Morley’s as a cultural reference point for a generation of Londoners.
The sign was officially handed over to the museum by members of the Morley’s team alongside south London artists Krept and Konan, and Indran’s brother, Kannalingam Mahendran, who ran the Sydenham branch. “Everyone knows Morley’s,” Mahendran told the BBC. “I’m very proud of the firm’s history and how it has expanded.”
A sign for the times
Morley’s inclusion in the Hanging Out exhibition acknowledges the contribution of working-class, immigrant, and Tamil communities to the soul of the city. “Morley’s is an icon of London’s high streets,” said Dhikshana Turakhia Pering, Head of Creative Programmes at the London Museum.
“It evokes memories of after-school hangouts and late-night stories for generations of Londoners. It’s part of the DNA and culture of London and tells a story about community spirit and entrepreneurialism that’s at the heart of this city.”
While Morley’s continues to grow Shan insists the core ethos remains unchanged. “You will see every walk of life in our shop. We’ll always be a community brand—no matter how big we get.”