Owner Spent Four Months Drawing Art For His Comic-themed Restaurant

Chris Lui, 32, owner of Waku Waku in Manchester, spent over four months drawing his comic book-themed cafe by hand. He was also influenced by the 2D cafés in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Dubai, where the cafes have a comic book-like appearance. A false bookshelf, portraits of individuals, and landmarks like London Bridge are all included on the walls. WILLIAM LAILEY/SWNS

The pictures show the inside of a comic-themed restaurant covered in black and white pictures – that the owner spent four months drawing by hand.

Creative Chris Lui, 32, decided to open Waku Waku in Manchester city center after being inspired by Manga cafes, where visitors can read Japanese comics.

He was also inspired by 2D cafes in Hong Kong, South Korea and Dubai, which is where cafes look like they are in a comic book.

Landmarks on the walls include places such as London Bridge while it also features a fake bookshelf and paintings of people.

Chris Lui, 32, with his wife Gigi Chung, 34 and daughter Kasey Lui, 3, inside Waku Waku. He was also influenced by the 2D cafés in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Dubai, where the cafes have a comic book-like appearance. A false bookshelf, portraits of individuals, and landmarks like London Bridge are all included on the walls. WILLIAM LAILEY/SWNS

Chris drew every cartoon on the walls himself and used around 150 pencils, despite having no artistic experience.

He said: “I was drawing every single day until midnight, or sometimes even until 2 am.

“I had to look at what I was going to draw, then I would do up a draft and then I would do it on the wall.

“It was very hard because if I messed up, then I would have to go back in and use a white pencil to cover up any mistakes that I made.

Lui spent over four months drawing his comic book-themed cafe by hand. He was also influenced by the 2D cafés in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Dubai, where the cafes have a comic book-like appearance. A false bookshelf, portraits of individuals, and landmarks like London Bridge are all included on the walls. WILLIAM LAILEY/SWNS

“This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this – I don’t know how to draw at all.

“Before this, I worked at the bank HSBC for over ten years, so it was different.”

The restaurant opened today (Tuesday, Aug. 15) and will serve a range of Japanese food.

Inside the comic book-themed restaurant Waku Waku in Manchester. He was also influenced by the 2D cafés in Hong Kong, South Korea, and Dubai, where the cafes have a comic book-like appearance. A false bookshelf, portraits of individuals, and landmarks like London Bridge are all included on the walls. WILLIAM LAILEY/SWNS

Speaking before the opening, Chris said he was ‘very excited’ about ‘bringing a new concept to Manchester.’

Chris, who is originally from Hong Kong, said: “I feel very excited and I hope people will love the concept and come and try some Japanese food.

“Some people don’t want to try new things but I just wanted to bring a new concept to Manchester and I hope people will like it.”

Produced in association with SWNS Talker