Giggling Squid and Spritz Social add to Aquila’s Bond Street Mall in Chelmsford
Giggling Squid, the BGF-backed Thai restaurant chain founded by Andy and Pranee Laurillard, is to open a 3,800 sq ft restaurant at Aquila Holding’s Bond Street mall in Chelmsford. Set to launch this summer, Giggling Squid is one of five new brands to have committed to Bond Street as the centre demonstrates its resilience and ability to attract the best F&B operators.
Located on Bond Street’s restaurant terrace, Giggling Squid will include a 1,100 sq ft river facing dining terrace. The brand joins a range of premium dining operators, including Bill’s Wagamama, Ask Italian and local champion Tiptree. In addition, Bond Street Mall is home to a five-screen Everyman Cinema.
In addition to Giggling Squid, Aquila has signed Spritz Social, an al fresco bar serving craft beer, cocktails, champagne, Aperol Spritz and food able to be ordered from nearby Bond Street operators via QR codes. Situated in a dedicated events space located adjacent to Bond Street’s restaurant terrace, Spritz Social provides 200 socially distanced covers, including a covered pergola and heated beach huts for up to six people.
The three other brands to have signed are Oliver Bonas, Clarendon Fine Art and The Pop-Up Club. The latter showcases over 55 local and independent lifestyle brands including, beautiful hand-made jewellery, terrariums and plant-based home decor makers.
Dominic Chambers, Managing Director of Aquila, commented: “Bond Street is the region’s premier shopping and leisure destination, with a range of aspirational brands unique to the county and an excellent choice of places to eat, drink and socialise. We’re delighted Giggling Squid has chosen to join our line-up, and with the energy and creativity Spritz Social has invested in bringing their Aperol bar to Bond Street.
“Delivering these new additions post-covid is testament to Bond Street’s ability to attract the best brands, keen to capitalise on such a wealthy and loyal demographic. We are delighted the five have signed and our team has worked hard with each to create new reasons for our customers to visit.”
Andy Laurillard, co-founder of Giggling Squid, added: “Bond Street is the ideal location for Giggling Squid. It has a character and appeal that suits our brand, and it is very evident from the high footfall there is great customer loyalty. We’re excited to bring our fresh Thai food to the area and can’t wait to welcome the local community.”
Anthony Ellis, owner of Spritz Social, said: “Spritz Social at Bond Street mall gives the city somewhere safe in which they can socialise in style as life begins to return to normal. We have been fully booked since we opened on April 12 and the feedback from visitors is very positive. People are enjoying themselves as part of a visit to Bond Street, which was our intention from the outset.”
Developed and owned by Aquila, the Bond Street mall opened in September 2016 and comprises John Lewis, 25 premium brands, seven riverside restaurants and a five-screen Everyman cinema. The centre’s regional appeal is reflected in the strength of its performance since non-essential retail re-opened on April 12, with footfall returning to similar levels as the equivalent period in 2019 almost overnight.
CBRE and Jamieson Mills acted for Bond Street. AG&G for Giggling Squid and Spritz Social dealt direct. Colliers represented Oliver Bonas and Lawson Hubbard Lowe acted for Clarendon Fine Art.