Turtle Bay Caribbean restaurant concept eyes roll out

Jaya-Wickrema opened the first venue for Turtle Bay at The Hub: MK mixed-use development in Milton Keynes at the end of last year, after securing the location through Restaurant Property.

Now the entrepreneur has revealed he is close to securing two new sites, one of which is believed to be in Southampton, and intends to open a further two to three sites before the end of 2011.

“Since Turtle Bay’s opening in November the restaurant has traded particularly well,” he said. “The concept seems also to have gained approval from landlords as we are shortly to report on two further acquisitions. Landlords are very keen to have well known high street brands in their schemes but the more sophisticated ones are also realising that there are dangers in the same offerings being replicated across the UK.

“Rather than creating clone schemes they are increasingly keen to generate a more interesting mix which brings in new formats and refreshes their offering. We have been a beneficiary of this trend.”

Las Iguanas​

Jaya-Wickrema left Las Iguanas in August 2009, which he founded along with Eren Ali, and has been focused on the development of Turtle Bay since.

The concept serves a selection of Cutters, inspired by street hawkers and beach shacks, rotis, soups and salads, and meats grilled over a Jerk Pit BBQ.

Jaya-Wickrema and his backers are searching for properties of 3,000-4,000sqft in the south and the Midlands.