We tried Wingstop in Westquay and this is what we thought

But we were lucky enough to be invited to the official opening party last week and get a sneak peek at the menu.

Given the phenomenon that is Nando's, and with a thriving student population in Southampton, a restaurant chain like Wingstop makes complete sense.

READ MORE: Wingstop Southampton: this is when restaurant will open

The premise is simple: you choose a minimum of eight pieces of chicken, either the traditional wing, or for the bone-adverse either nuggets (commonly referred to as 'nugs' and 'nuggies' by the joint's target demographic) or tenders.

You then choose up to two flavour sauces, toppings or spice rubs that these are coated in from a wide selection.

Similarly to Nando's, these options are on a spice spectrum: from the Sweet and Sour-adjacent Hawaiian and Garlic Parmesan all the way up to the aptly-named Atomic.

We ticked off almost all of the flavours during our time there, with platter after platter being brought to the tables by the attentive team.

Our hands-down winner was the Spicy Korean BBQ: on the spicier end of the spectrum but not mouth-numbing, with a deliciously dark, glossy sauce coating each piece of chicken.

The dips also went down a treat.

Honey Mustard, Blue Cheese and that American favourite, Ranch, were quickly demolished with support from the delicious fries, which came with seasonings including Lemon Pepper and Cajun.

It was pointed out to us that the proliferation of creamy dips was to counteract the spicier items on the menu... a realisation I wish we had made ourselves.

Because by this point, those of us who dared to sample the Atomic - wings engulfed in Habanero chillies - were paying the price: mouths aflame, eyes streaming, unable to string together a sentence.

Even the more innocent-sounding Mango Habanero had a potent slow-burn.

The Original flavour was much akin to your standard Buffalo sauce, and paired with that Blue Cheese dip it compared favourably to similar wings I have sampled elsewhere.

While they were only there for the launch event, a special shout out goes to the DJ, whose setlist of early noughties R&B bangers had us shuffling in our seats.

We were told the standard playlist is similar to this, however, with a bit of grime, hip-hop and drill thrown in for good measure - and lots of up and coming artists.

For dessert, we gorged on some churros: crispy yet fluffy and encrusted in cinnamon sugar.

These were served like loaded fries, topped with either crumbled Oreos and a creamy frosting-inspired drizzle or caramel sauce and Biscoff pieces.

I preferred the latter, but would have been even happier without the toppings and a pot of sauce to dip them in.

My only other suggestion would be to offer wet wipes as well as napkins - given how hands-on the dining experience is.

Unsurprisingly, Wingstop is not vegan-friendly; although we were told a vegan menu is in the works.

We left feeling full - and with a free oral chemical peel to boot. A great new addition to Southampton's culinary scene and one we will certainly be heading back to soon.