Restaurant chain Thai Leisure Group has pledged to invest £1m into its most popular Chaophraya and Thaikhun restaurants.
The York based business is ploughing the investment into its Chaophraya and Thaikhun restaurants over the coming months, with plans to upgrade both the interior and exterior of at least five of its restaurants. The firm has six Chaophraya restaurants across the UK, at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle, and nine Thaikhun Street Food eateries at Aberdeen, Bath, Cambridge, Glasgow, Silverburn, Manchester, Gateshead Metrocentre, Oxford, Southampton.
Every Chaophraya site will be refurbished over the next three years, with the Newcastle site in Eldon Square set to be the first to receive a makeover.
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Contractor JMDA, has been appointed to work on the refurb for five sites. The firm said the investment is being made to meet the needs of its existing customers, as well as to support its ambitious growth plans. Key changes will include redesigning and modernising front of house areas and entrances, as well as the dining and bar areas of several key restaurants.
Managing director at Thai Leisure Group, Ian Leigh, said: “At Thai Leisure Group, we pride ourselves on constantly innovating and developing our offering, which is why we’ve remained the UK’s biggest Thai restaurant chain. This significant investment will elevate the dining experience even further for guests, allowing customers to enjoy a greater range of Thai cuisine in a comfortable and aesthetic environment.
“We are excited to unveil the refurbishment works taking place across several of our core restaurants, and look forward to welcoming new and returning customers over the coming months.”
The firm recently extended its portfolio with its first Thaikhun street food buffet restaurant, Thaikhun Buffet, in The Trafford Centre, Manchester. The brand has plans to open more Chaophraya sites in the next five years, as well as to grow its presence in food delivery having made its food available through Deliveroo.
The company had been operating under a CVA (Company Voluntary Agreement) since October 2019, with most recent accounts covering 2021 detailing how the firm’s directors agreed the CVA was the most appropriate mechanism for the business in a challenging trading environment. The accounts said it was finding it difficult to service a level of bank debt which had been taken out in “very different market conditions”.
During the pandemic its shareholders backed a second CVA, focusing on the short and long term future of the business through temporary rent reductions and the closure of unsustainable sites. Last month the company filed documents showing the completion of the voluntary agreement.
