CELEBRITY fried chicken restaurant, Sides, opened in superstar style at Lakeside as Tobi, Ethan, Josh (from The Sidemen) and Russ Cook aka The 'Hardest Geezer' turned up to Thurrock's regional shopping to open their restaurant and serve their fans, with Elz The Witch hosting the event.

Sides, which was created by The Sidemen – seven social media creators (KSI, W2S, Miniminter, Vikkstar123, Zerkaa, Behzinga & TBJZL), is located in The Eatery on Level 3 and is now open, bringing chicken, waffle fries and desserts to hungry visitors, plus, its opening marks a poignant moment for Lakeside.

The restaurant is the stars' fifth across the country and offers stylish décor, comfortable seating and "attentive" service.

Howard Oldstein, Centre Director at Lakeside said: "Sides brings a fresh and exciting dining experience to Lakeside, further enhancing our reputation as a premier destination for food lovers.

Russ Cook aka The 'Hardest Geezer'

"With such a powerful celebrity-backed opening, we are confident that Sides will quickly become a favourite among locals and visitors alike."

Another new restaurant on The Eatery is Mother Hubbard's, which caters for Fish and Chips lovers and brings the English delicacy to the mix of eateries.

The opening of Sides confirms The Eatery is now fully let, offering the most diverse choice of foods from around the world including cuisines from Italy, India, Mexico, Africa, America, Japan and many more.