Leisure and retail property specialist EJ Hales has helped a renowned American burger and fries brand secure its first outlet in Wales.
Acting on behalf of Orchard Street Investment Management’s client, St James’s Place UK Plc, the Cardiff-based agent has let a unit in the Brewery Quarter, Cardiff to Five Guys.
The 4,900 sq ft restaurant will have a capacity for 140 diners and will create over 50 new jobs.
Five Guys was first established in Washington DC in 1986 by the Murrell family, offering their famous freshly prepared and high quality burgers and hand cut fries. Now, nearly twenty years on, Five Guys has over 1,200 locations globally and has started expanding into the UK, recently opening restaurants in Glasgow, Manchester, Reading, and Bluewater to name a few.
The chain, which was included in the list of Top 10 best burgers in London conducted by www.visitlondon.com, and has been Zagat survey rated for over 10 years.
The letting is the latest deal advised by EJ Hales which has been responsible for bringing eateries including Côte, GBK, Bill’s and Carluccio’s to Cardiff.
Phillip Morris, partner at EJ Hales, said: “The Brewery Quarter in Cardiff is the ideal location for Five Guys to open its first outlet in Wales. Five Guys has a significant amount of history and the Brewery Quarter has been known for its diverse range of restaurants, cafes and bars. Cardiff is rapidly becoming a hotspot for American-themed dining, with the likes of Apple Jacks and the Smoke Haus all opening in the last year. We’re confident that Five Guys will be a popular addition to the scene.”
Fergus Egan, of Orchard Street Investment Management, added: “Five Guys is a welcome addition to the Brewery Quarter adding to our diverse selection of food and drink outlets. It’s an exciting time for the city with many high profile restaurants choosing to open up new units. Five Guys’ reputation precedes them and we’re sure it will quickly make a name for itself in Wales and within Cardiff’s booming foodie scene. We’re grateful to the support that the team at EJ Hales has given us in securing this prestigious tenant.”
Commenting on their selection of the Brewery Quarter to herald the next stage of the brand’s expansion into Wales, John Eckbert, CEO at Five Guys UK, said: “The Brewery Quarter in Cardiff was identified immediately as we planned the expansion of the Five Guys brand into Wales. It is a highly successful destination popular with consumers from throughout the region which creates the perfect opportunity for Five Guys. We are completing a critical mass of brands and our fast casual concept adds something new to the tenant mix and will appeal to existing customers and attract new visitors.”