Belles Hot Chicken

Belles Hot Chicken is an Australian restaurant chain built around southern-style fried chicken, particularly the Nashville hot chicken tradition. The business began in Melbourne in 2014 when Miranda Campbell, Reno Pontonio and chef Morgan McGlone took over a Fitzroy venue previously known as Belle's Diner and repositioned it as Belles Hot Chicken. The earlier restaurant had served broadly American food without gaining a strong reception; the new operators narrowed the proposition around fried chicken, escalating levels of heat and a casual Nashville-diner atmosphere. McGlone's interest in the category developed during time spent living in Nashville, Tennessee. After returning to Australia, he worked with Campbell and Pontonio to establish the new concept. The Fitzroy restaurant's revised menu and identity received favourable attention from Australian food critics, helping it develop a loyal following. Belles became particularly associated with the combination of spicy fried chicken and natural wine, an unusual pairing that helped distinguish it from more conventional quick-service chicken restaurants. The food is centred on chicken that is brined in advance and coated in a flour-based spice mixture. The house heat profile relies mainly on smoked paprika and cayenne pepper, and customers can choose different levels of spiciness. Chicken is served with plain white bread, in keeping with the informal southern-style presentation. The menu has also included wings, other chicken pieces, hot fish, macaroni and cheese, potato salad, beans braised with ham hocks and soft-serve ice cream. Sauces include a Belles-branded ranch dressing and a blue-cheese-based accompaniment. The drinks program has included beer and combinations such as rye whiskey with pickle juice. Following the original Fitzroy venue, the brand expanded beyond Victoria. A pop-up in Barangaroo, New South Wales, opened in 2015 and became a permanent site in 2016. The business later pursued a larger New South Wales presence and opened a Circular Quay location. In 2018, it collaborated with Malaysian restaurant chain PappaRich on a fried chicken sandwich. Belles subsequently added a location in Adelaide's central business district in June 2024. By March 2025, the chain had six actively trading locations: Fitzroy, Docklands and Melbourne CBD in Melbourne; Barangaroo and Circular Quay in Sydney; and Adelaide CBD. The ownership structure has changed since launch, with Jenner-Leuthart reported to have bought out McGlone's stake at some point after the chain was established. The available reference material does not identify the relevant individual's full name or provide a current corporate ownership structure. Belles Hot Chicken remains an Australian restaurant brand with a strong local identity, a menu focused on spicy fried chicken and a hospitality format combining casual dining, alcohol and regional American culinary influences.

Belles Hot Chicken emerged from the redevelopment of a Fitzroy restaurant formerly operating as Belle's Diner. The venue had previously pursued a broad American-food offer, but its reception was limited. In 2014, Miranda Campbell, Reno Pontonio and Morgan McGlone took over the business and gave it a more focused identity based on southern-style fried chicken and Nashville-inspired heat levels. McGlone had developed an interest in fried chicken while living in Nashville, Tennessee, and brought that influence to the Australian venture after returning home. The founders changed the restaurant's name to Belles Hot Chicken and rebuilt its menu around brined chicken, flour-based seasoning and a range of spice intensities. The food was paired with casual sides, sauces and a drinks list that included natural wine, helping the restaurant occupy a position between a quick-service chicken shop and a more fully developed casual-dining venue. The Fitzroy site benefited from positive reviews in Australian newspapers and developed a cult following. Its interior was designed with a Nashville-diner influence, including a prominent stool-studded bar. The concept's appeal came not only from the heat of the chicken but also from its informal presentation, southern-style accompaniments and drinks culture. Expansion began with a Barangaroo pop-up in New South Wales in 2015. That site became permanent in 2016, establishing Belles in Sydney. The business later added a Circular Quay venue as part of its effort to build a flagship presence in the state. In 2018, it partnered with PappaRich on a fried chicken sandwich, demonstrating an occasional willingness to work across restaurant concepts rather than limiting the brand to its core menu. The ownership history also changed after the founding period. Jenner-Leuthart bought out McGlone's stake at an unspecified point after the chain was established. The available source does not provide enough information to identify Jenner-Leuthart's full name, determine the precise transaction date or describe the current legal ownership structure. In June 2024, Belles opened a restaurant in Adelaide's central business district. By March 2025, the chain was reported to have six actively trading locations: three in Melbourne, two in Sydney and one in Adelaide. Melbourne sites were located in Fitzroy, Docklands and the Melbourne CBD; Sydney sites were in Barangaroo and Circular Quay; and the Adelaide site was in the CBD. Belles Hot Chicken's documented development therefore runs from a single reworked Melbourne diner to a multi-city Australian restaurant chain, while retaining its focus on Nashville-style fried chicken, spice-led customisation and a distinctive casual hospitality environment.

• 2025

  Six-location Australian footprint reported

  [1]Belles Hot Chickenen.wikipedia.org

  As of March, the chain was reported to be operating six locations across Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.

• 2024

  Adelaide CBD location opens

  [1]Belles Hot Chickenen.wikipedia.org

  The chain opened a restaurant in Adelaide's central business district in June.

• 2018

  PappaRich collaboration

  [1]Belles Hot Chickenen.wikipedia.org

  Belles Hot Chicken collaborated with PappaRich on a fried chicken sandwich.

• 2016

  Barangaroo becomes permanent

  [1]Belles Hot Chickenen.wikipedia.org

  The Barangaroo operation transitioned from a pop-up into a permanent restaurant.

• 2015

  Sydney expansion begins with a Barangaroo pop-up

  [1]Belles Hot Chickenen.wikipedia.org

  Belles opened a temporary location in Barangaroo, New South Wales, marking its first documented expansion outside Melbourne.

• 2014

  Fitzroy restaurant is rebranded as Belles Hot Chicken

  [1]Belles Hot Chickenen.wikipedia.org

  Miranda Campbell, Reno Pontonio and Morgan McGlone took over the former Belle's Diner in Fitzroy and refocused it on southern-style hot fried chicken.

A casual Australian restaurant brand specialising in Nashville-inspired hot chicken, with a distinctive combination of escalating spice, southern-style sides, natural wine and an informal diner atmosphere.

• Main dishes · 2014

  Nashville-style hot fried chicken

  The core offering is fried chicken prepared after advance brining and coated in a flour-based seasoning blend. The house spice profile is primarily built around smoked paprika and cayenne pepper, with heat levels allowing customers to select a milder or more intense experience. Chicken is presented with plain white bread in a casual southern-style format.

• Main dishes · 2014

  Chicken wings

  Wings are among the brand's prominent chicken formats and have been highlighted by restaurant reviewers for their crunch, juiciness and concentrated flavour. They are served within the same spice-led menu system as the brand's other fried chicken offerings.

• Side dishes · 2014

  Southern-style sides

  The menu has included macaroni and cheese, potato salad and beans braised with ham hocks. These sides reinforce the restaurant's southern-American positioning and provide alternatives to the central fried-chicken offer.

• Main dishes

  Hot fish

  Hot fish extends the brand's seasoned, fried-food format beyond chicken while retaining the spicy southern-style treatment associated with the restaurant.

• Condiments · 2014

  Belles sauces

  Sauce options have included a Belles-branded ranch dressing and a blue-cheese-based sauce. They provide cooling, creamy accompaniments to the brand's heat-focused chicken.

• Dessert

  Soft-serve ice cream

  Soft-serve ice cream has been offered as a dessert, providing a simple sweet finish within the otherwise savoury and spice-oriented menu.

• 2018Belles Hot Chicken x PappaRich fried chicken sandwich

  Australia

  Belles Hot Chicken partnered with Malaysian restaurant chain PappaRich to create a collaborative fried chicken sandwich.

  Outcome. The collaboration expanded the brand's menu through a cross-brand product, but the available reference does not document sales results or the duration of the promotion.

  Source

• 2024

  Expand into AdelaideStrategy

  Background

  After developing locations in Melbourne and Sydney, the chain continued its Australian expansion.

  Action taken

  Belles opened a restaurant in Adelaide's central business district in June 2024.

  Aftermath

  Adelaide became the brand's third documented Australian city and its first South Australian market.

  Source

• 2016

  Convert the Barangaroo pop-up into a permanent siteStrategy

  Background

  The brand tested the Sydney market through a Barangaroo pop-up launched in 2015.

  Action taken

  Belles made the Barangaroo location permanent in 2016.

  Aftermath

  The move established a continuing Sydney presence and supported subsequent expansion in New South Wales.

  Source

• 2014

  Refocus from general American food to hot chickenStrategy

  Background

  The Fitzroy venue's previous identity as Belle's Diner had focused on American food and was reportedly not well received.

  Action taken

  The new owners renamed the venue Belles Hot Chicken and concentrated the menu and brand identity on southern-style fried chicken influenced by Nashville.

  Aftermath

  The restaurant received favourable critical attention and developed a loyal following associated with spicy chicken and natural wine.

  Source

1. 1Belles Hot Chickenen.wikipedia.org