Nine new names secured for the extension to intu Metrocentre’s vibrant dining area.
Thaikhun, Barburrito, Coast to Coast, TGI Fridays, Chiquito, Five Guys, Ask, Bella Italia, and Subway all signed up
First Thaikhun and Barburrito restaurants in the North East opening at intu Metrocentre
Thaikhun and Barburrito have chosen intu Metrocentre as the perfect spot for their first ventures in the North East. They are amongst nine restaurant names signed up for the vibrant family-friendly atmosphere of the Qube dining and leisure quarter at intu Metrocentre, Europe’s largest covered shopping and leisure destination.
Two final restaurants are close to being announced bringing the total to 11 in the 45,000 sq ft extension and 24 restaurants, cafes and bars in the enlarged Qube area as a whole. The extension, which will open in Spring 2016, is expected to be fully pre-let six months before launch.
Thaikhun is opening its first North East restaurant at intu Metrocentre where it will be offering authentic and tasty Thai street food. The restaurant will be decorated with genuine bric-a-brac items from Thailand, all hand selected to bring Bangkok to Tyne & Wear. Kim Kaewkraikhot, owner/ chef director of Thaikhun, said: “I want to bring the true cooking of my country to customers throughout the UK. It’s exciting to be opening in another new region of England. intu Metrocentre will be a great place for us and we’re really looking forward to being part of the Qube dining and leisure quarter. The buzz in the place is great for our street food and will echo the excitement of the streets of Bangkok.”
Barburrito’s is also opening its first North East restaurant at intu Metrocentre. Jim Bishop, head of property at Barburrito, the UK’s first burrito bar, said: “It’s great to be opening at intu Metrocentre and continues our expansion throughout the UK. intu Metrocentre is one of the top shopping centres in the country with great footfall figures. We’re looking forward to serving freshly made burritos, tacos and sides for the first time to customers in the North East.”
In addition to Thaikhun and Barburrito, the new line-up will include Coast to Coast, TGI Fridays, Chiquito, Five Guys, Ask, Bella Italia and Subway. Qube is open throughout the day, and late into the evening, with something for all ages and to suit all tastes and budgets.
Kate Grant, regional director of intu, said: “intu Metrocentre is ranked as one of the top five shopping centres in the UK. We’ve achieved this position by focusing on the needs of our customers and bringing them compelling experiences. We know people visit shopping centres to eat, drink and socialise as well as to shop. Also, our research shows a strong dining offer encourages customers to stay longer and spend more. By creating a unique leisure offer, throughout the day and evening, intu Metrocentre will continue to attract new and repeat visitors.”
In addition to the wide choice of restaurants and bars, the enlarged Qube dining and leisure quarter includes family entertainment at Namco Funscape and a 12 screen ODEON cinema with Imax, which is one of ODEON’s top three locations in the UK along with intu Trafford Centre. The existing Qube dining area already has many top names such as PizzaExpress, handmade burger Co, Nando’s, Zizzi, wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s.
intu, the leading owner and manager of prime regional shopping centres in the UK, is spending £16m on extending the Qube dining and leisure quarter at intu Metrocentre, which has two million sq ft of retail, catering and leisure space. This is part of intu’s £1.5bn investment pipeline in the UK over the next 10 years.