The business behind Cosy Club is opening a restaurant in a long-empty unit at a Welsh shopping centre. The Loungers group will launch the Carro Lounge in a large spot of the Cwmbran Centre which has been empty since 2012.
Carro Lounge has taken over the 4,700 sq ft former Square Inn in Gwent Square on a 15-year lease from LCP, which owns the centre. The fit-out is expected to start soon ahead of a planned opening before Christmas.
Loungers operates 193 sites in England and Wales across the Lounge and Cosy Club brands. Its website explains the difference between the brands: "A Lounge is a neighbourhood café/bar combining elements of a restaurant, British pub, and coffee shop culture... Cosy Clubs are more formal bar/restaurants offering reservations and table service but they share many similarities with the Lounges in terms of their broad all-day offer and focus on hospitality and culture. Interiors tend to be larger and more theatrical to create a sense of occasion."
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Carro Lounge's food offering will include gluten-free and vegan standalone menus. A spokesman for Lounge said: “As a business we are passionate about how each and every one of our Lounge’s teams become engaged and embedded within their local communities and will be looking to hire those keen to make a difference in the local area.
“Our teams are encouraged to connect with their communities by working with local groups, charities, organisations, and businesses that are at the heart of the fabric of local life. We want to get to know and work with our neighbours and inspire people to do good by supporting each other and supporting local good causes.”
Alex Williams, LCP asset manager, added: “When LCP acquired Cwmbran Centre earlier this year it made a commitment to improving the offer and attracting new tenants. This intensive asset management approach has paid dividends in only a few months with the Loungers group taking this strategically-important space that has lain empty for years.
“We are confident that local shoppers will welcome the arrival of Carro Lounge, which has a reputation for its quirky and unusual interiors. We’re looking forward to it opening its doors.”
Last month LCP announced four new tenants at the centre – Geek Retreat, H & T Pawnbrokers, USA Toys, and Star Sports Bet. All are fitting out their stores ahead of planned launches in the next few weeks. You can read more food and drink news here.
