Britain has a Dave problem. Once found in every office, pub, football team and family WhatsApp group in the country, the nation’s Daves are becoming an increasingly rare breed. Now, Dave’s Hot Chicken is stepping in to do something about it.
On Tuesday 13th October, the cult US chicken brand is launching DAVE’S DAY (a nationwide mission to SAVE THE DAVE), celebrating its namesakes by giving every Dave in Britain the chance to get their hands on a FREE slider.
David was once the undisputed king of boys’ names, topping the charts in England and Wales in both 1954 and 1964. But fast forward a few decades and its reign has well and truly faded. By 1996 David had dropped to 32nd place and, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, it ranked just 73rd last year with only 712 baby Davids born.
So this Dave’s Day, it finally pays to be a Dave. Anyone named Dave, David, Dafydd, Davide, or another recognised variation of Dave can head to their nearest Dave’s Hot Chicken, flash valid photo ID and walk away with a FREE slider.
No catch. Just proof that you’re one of Britain’s increasingly elusive Daves.
And for anyone out there who wished their parents had called them Dave, there’s still time to put that right. In a bid to reverse the decline, Dave’s Hot Chicken is on a mission to SAVE THE DAVE and will be handing out deed poll forms in restaurants across the country, giving non-Daves everything they need to officially join the club with a pretty tasty incentive.
Officially change your first name to Dave by 31 October 2026 to receive FREE Dave’s Hot Chicken for an entire year.
Keyana Mohammadi, Marketing Director of Dave’s Hot Chicken UK and Ireland, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring Dave’s Day to the UK and Ireland. It’s a chance to celebrate the people behind the name that started it all, and when we discovered just how dramatically David had fallen down the baby name charts, we knew we had to do something about it!
Save the Dave is our way of giving Britain’s Daves the recognition they deserve, with free chicken obviously, while hopefully inspiring a few new ones along the way. And for anyone willing to go as far as officially changing their name, we think free Dave’s for a year is a pretty fitting reward.”
And while Dave’s Day is putting the nation’s real Daves firmly in the spotlight, those with absolutely no intention of changing their name won’t leave empty handed.
Non-Daves can take advantage of a Buy One, Bank One offer by signing up for Dave’s Day through the Dave’s Hot Chicken app and making a qualifying purchase of £6.49 or over. A free slider will then be added to their loyalty account to redeem between 14 October and Tuesday 10 November 2026.*
So whether you’re a lifelong Dave, a David who only gets called that when he’s in trouble, or seriously considering making the switch, Dave’s Hot Chicken is celebrating Dave’s Day this October with one mission.
SAVE THE DAVE.