Greggs releases a new twist on the chicken roll

Greggs has unveiled a brand-new twist on its popular Chicken Roll, and it's good news for anyone who likes their pastry with a bit of a kick.

The bakery chain has been keeping customers busy with new releases recently, particularly with its Christmas menu making a return.

But while everyone else is getting excited about turkey, stuffing and all things festive, Greggs has decided to switch things up with something a little spicier.

The best part? You can already get your hands on it.

The high street favourite has officially launched its new Salt & Chilli Chicken Roll, offering an alternative to the original version that arrived in stores earlier this year.

This latest addition to Greggs features salt and chilli seasoned chicken wrapped in layers of crispy, golden, glazed puff pastry.

The new chicken roll has more spice than its predecessor (Greggs)

Essentially, it's everything you'd expect from a Greggs pastry, only with a little more heat.

The new roll landed in more than 2,700 UK shops on Thursday (29 October), meaning customers won't have to wait around to give it a try.

Costing just £1.35, it costs the same as the chain's iconic Sausage Roll, not too shabby for a lunchtime treat.

However, there's a slight catch for anyone who had become particularly attached to the original Chicken Roll.

It appears the new version has replaced its predecessor, which has disappeared from the bakery's online menu.

The original Chicken Roll only launched in April, when Greggs introduced it alongside its classic Sausage Roll and Vegan Roll.

At the time, the new addition proved popular with shoppers, with some describing it as 'great' and 'easy to eat'.

Others even went as far as suggesting it was better than the original Sausage Roll, which is quite a bold statement considering how beloved the classic pastry is.

But despite that positive reception, Greggs has decided it's time for a change.

Confirming the switch, a spokesperson for the bakery told The Sun: "The Chicken Roll is taking a well-deserved rest to make room for our brand-new Salt and Chilli Chicken Roll, which has recently landed in shops."

So, if you were hoping to pick up the original chicken-filled pastry, you might be out of luck for the time being.

As for the new version, Greggs is positioning it as a break from the usual festive flavours that tend to dominate menus at this time of year.

On its website, the bakery describes the Salt & Chilli Chicken Roll as a 'welcome break from the Christmas chaos'.

The new festive range has won fans over, but this is a new addition for anyone not feeling the Christmas spirit yet (Greggs)

Considering how early the Christmas food launches seem to arrive these days, we can understand the thinking.

The chain has already rolled out its festive range, which includes the return of the much-loved Festive Bake and the Pigs Under Blanket Toastie.

There are also some new sweet treats joining the line-up, including a Millionaire's Doughnut and a White Chocolate Gingerbread Cookie.

But if you're not quite ready to spend the next two months eating everything covered in cranberry sauce, the Salt & Chilli Chicken Roll could be worth considering.

Greggs is certainly hoping it'll tempt customers looking for something different.

You don't necessarily have to head into your nearest bakery to try it, either.

The new roll is available to order through Just Eat and Uber Eats, while customers can also use Greggs' Click + Collect service to pick one up without waiting in the usual lunchtime queue.

Whether it'll manage to win over fans of the original Chicken Roll remains to be seen.

But for £1.35, it's certainly not the most expensive food experiment you'll ever make.

With the festive menu already in full swing, at least there's now another option for anyone who isn't quite ready to embrace Christmas dinner in pastry form.