EXHIBIT 23.1

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

    As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of
our report dated February 11, 2002 for Friendly Ice Cream Corporation and
subsidiaries included in this Form 10-K into Friendly Ice Cream Corporation's
previously filed Registration Statements (File Nos. 333-40195, 333-40197 and
333-40199) on Form S-8.

                                          /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
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                                          ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP

Hartford, Connecticut
February 11, 2002