EXHIBIT 23.1

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our
report dated February 9, 2001 (except for the matters discussed in Notes 2, 6
and 20 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as to which the date is
April 16, 2001) for Friendly Ice Cream Corporation and subsidiaries included in
this Form 10-K into Friendly Ice Cream Corporation's previously filed
Registration Statement (File Nos. 333-40195, 333-40197 and 333-40199) on
Form S-8.

Hartford, Connecticut
April 16, 2001