An American-inspired street food restaurant is opening in Cardiff Bay.
Hubbox specialises in burgers made using 21 day dry-aged Cornish rare beef and New York-style hot dogs.
There are seven sites in the south west, with eighth planned to open in Barnstaple later this year. The venue in Mermaid Quay will the groups first outlet in Wales and first out of the south west.
The growing restaurant group prides itself on using local produce and will look to use Welsh companies as opposed to the suppliers they use in the south west.
Richard Boon, Hubbox CEO, said: “My wife is from South Wales, we used to visit Cardiff Bay a lot when we first met and she was living there. I have liked the location and the Mermaid Quay scheme since then.
“I’m excited about the new look and feel that the scheme is about to get and new cool brands including Everyman that will bring a new dynamic. The waterfront location - which is basically in our DNA – suits us perfectly.”
Hubbox has taken a 3,000 sq ft unit, with 500 sq ft of outside seating, located next door to Cosy Club, which opens its doors next week.
Cosy Club’s venue in Mermaid Quay, which created 40 new jobs, is the groups second site in the city.
The Hubbox announcement comes amid great change in Mermaid Quay. Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Eddie’s Diner, Veeno and Chai Street are among the businesses in the popular shopping and leisure district that have shut in the past few months.
Italian chain Strada and Chinese favourite Pearl of the Orient both closed last year to make way for new businesses coming to Mermaid Quay following a revamp of the area.
The Hubbox and Cosy Club units are located within the planned redevelopment and extension of four units, which have been created alongside a new, high profile corner unit of 1,500 sq ft, with 1,000 sq ft of outside seating, which is currently being marketed by letting agents Savills and Smith Price RRG.
Harry Pickering, SREF’s Head of UK Retail, said: “Hubbox is sure to prove a popular draw at Mermaid Quay. It joins a growing line-up of popular brands making the unrivalled bay-side location their home, and is testament to SREF’s repositioning of the scheme and the confidence by tenants in our vision.”
Everyman will open an 11,500 sq ft, five-screen cinema at Mermaid Quay later this year, its first in Wales.
Customers at the boutique cinema, which has 22 sites across the UK, are able to swap soft drinks and popcorn for a glass of wine and fresh pizza. They also watch the film from a sofas.
SREF will start the second phase of improvement works designed to transform the scheme’s public realm in the Autumn. A stylish new landscaped public space is being created in Tacoma Square, where an extensive programme of events and entertainment will take place, as well as a contemporary dockside feel being introduced throughout the scheme. New paving, lighting, landscaping, signage and wayfinding, entrance markers, seating and street furniture will also be installed.
A number of existing occupiers are also investing in the scheme, with Zizzi, Las Iguanas, JRC Global Buffet, Ken Picton Hair Salon and Coffi Co among those that are undertaking refits ahead of Everyman opening.
Mermaid Quay, which is 20 years old this year, attracts around 5.5 million visitors per year.
