The Karen Forrester-led company is opening its first restaurant in Liverpool on The Terrace at Liverpool ONE this spring, and its fourth in Glasgow at the upcoming leisure extension of Silverburn in the autumn.
The two-tier Liverpool restaurant is situated on the 5,444 sq.ft site formerly operated by Pesto, adjacent Liverpool ONE’s Odeon cinema. TGI Friday’s joins 13 other brands on The Terrace, including Wagamama, Zizzi and Pizza Express.
Miles Dunnett, head of Asset Management for the Grosvenor Liverpool Fund, said: “TGI Friday’s is a great new addition to the line-up of brands on The Terrace. Their desire to open a restaurant in Liverpool ONE is typical of a large number of leading restaurant chains, who recognise the dominant role Liverpool ONE plays in the North West.”
The announcement follows a record year for Liverpool ONE’s restaurants and cafés, with year-on-year catering sales up by 23 per cent.
Prime position
Meanwhile, TGI Friday’s is the latest brand to sign up to the £20m leisure extension of Silverburn – the flagship out-of-town shopping centre in Glasgow from property developer Hammerson - having secured a 6,824 sq.ft unit.
TGI Friday’s property director David Carroll said: “Scotland is an important market for us and Silverburn’s already strong retail and leisure offer makes it a great option for a new TGI. Friday’s.
“We are planning a full open kitchen, exciting dining area and a standalone bar. To be part of this new leisure destination is a fantastic opportunity, particularly with such a prime position close to the cinema.”
Silverburn extension
Joining TGI Friday’s at Silverburn will be pan-Asian restaurant chain Cosmo, who have taken an adjacent 9924 sq.ft unit.
Chris Daly, catering leasing executive at Hammerson, added: “These two signings are another key milestone in the creation of Silverburn’s leisure extension. Along with the Cineworld cinema, the other new restaurants, and the existing offer, they will create a critical mass of offer that will establish Silverburn as the destination of choice for consumers in the catchment, not just for shopping, but for dining and leisure.”
Zizzi and Pizza Express are the only other two brands to have taken sites at Silverburn’s 100,000 sq.ft leisure development, which is currently under construction.
TGI Friday's currently operates 60 restaurants across the UK. Last year, Forrester told our sister title M&C Report she believed that the core Friday’s estate could grow to north of 80 sites.
Cushman & Wakefield and Tushingham Moore acted for Liverpool ONE and Bruce Gillingham Pollard acted for Hammerson. CBRE represented TGI Friday’s on both deals.