A new Thai restuarant, Giggling Squid, will be opening its doors next year in the former Chimichanga site as part of the upcoming redevelopment of the Sawclose area of Bath.
Within four weeks of opening in Bristol, Giggling Squid, the high growth family of Thai restaurants, completed on the new site in Bath.
The latest acquisition takes the group’s portfolio to 13 sites.
The company which introduced the “Thai Tapas” dining concept to the UK in 2009, Giggling Squid, is on a quest to have the UK’s first nationwide string of 70 restaurants, within 7 years.
Following the successful launch of new restaurants in Salisbury and Bristol in March, the company is led by husband-and-wife team Andrew and Pranee Laurillard.
The new restaurant, which will be located in Bluecote House opposite the Theatre Royal, is a converted school house and was last operated by the Cleaver Chimichanga chicken, ribs and burger chain, before recently closing.
It will reopen as Giggling Squid with approximately 200 covers, once major works to the square in front of the theatre are finished in 2016.
The development will form what promises to be a highly prized public outside area in the centre of the city.
New premises in Sawclose will include Zizzi, Byron, a smart new hotel and a super casino.
Giggling Squid will invest about £200,000 refitting the restaurant and create around 30 new jobs.
“We achieved critical mass some while ago and each new launch is more successful that the last, as we fine tune the business model,” said Giggling Squid MD Andrew Laurillard, who believes continued investments in systems, processes, people and marketing stands the company in good stead to improve quality and margins as the business grows.
“We’re very happy with our Bristol opening – it’s busy every night, ahead of budget, with great customer feedback.”
“Bath has been in our sights of the key provincial market towns and small cities in which to carry the carry the brand forward – both Bristol and Bath have an affluent well-travelled audience that knows what it wants and appreciates very good food at the right price.”
“But ultimately we’re a food-led business and are still having great fun,” said Pranee Laurillard.
“We are immensely proud that our customers compliment us for still having the welcoming feel of a one-off independent, which is why people think of us as a family of restaurants rather than a chain, whilst critics love the authentic street food style dishes.”
