Thai restaurant Busaba is opening its first venue in Wales at the Brewery Quarter in the centre of Cardiff.
The London-based chain has agreed to take 4,000 sq ft at the scheme which is managed by Orchard Street Investment Management on behalf of institutional investors.
It has entering into a 15-year lease across the ground and terrace floors of the Brewery Quarter, which extends to 65,000 sq ft. It will join other tenants at the scheme including Starbucks, Nando’s and Five Guys, alongside five other food and beverage tenants and two leisure offerings.
It follows a letting to leisure and entertainment specialist Boom: Battle Bar, which agreed to take 12,000 sq ft across four units in the lower piazza towards the end of last year.
Busaba said its new Cardiff restaurant will open on October 21st and will be its first new venue since the start of the pandemic.
The latest letting takes the Brewery Quarter to 90% occupancy with strong occupier interest for the remaining 7,000 sq ft unit located on the ground and first floor.
Terry Harrison, managing director at Busaba, said: “We specifically chose Cardiff for our first new opening since the pandemic began, as we see it as not only a fantastic, lively and fast growing city, but also a place brimming with discerning diners, who we can’t wait to introduce the Busaba brand to.
"The prime location and excellent use of inside and outside space at the Brewery Quarter provides a vibrant setting that perfectly matches our creative dining ethos, and we look forward to opening our doors to the public on October 21st this year.”
Ed Bales, retail asset manager at Orchard Street, said: “The selection of the Brewery Quarter as the location for Busaba’s first Welsh store is testament to the asset’s strong leisure proposition and prime location in Cardiff’s thriving city centre, while the restaurant’s unique dining concept will further enhance its impressive offering.
“With restrictions now lifting, consumers are once again returning to city centres in search of the best dining and leisure offerings, underlining the enduring human desire to interact and share experiences together.”
Elliott Shuttleworth, chief executive at Boom: Battle Bar, said: “We looked at a number of schemes in Cardiff when targeting the city, but I’m delighted that we chose the Brewery Quarter. Due to its constant high footfall rates – both from the nearby retail attractions during the day, and from the plentiful nightlife offerings during the evening, the store is consistently one of our top performers.”
EJ Hales acted as the letting agent for Orchard Street with AG&G acting for Busaba.
