Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid unveils plans for new Chester venue

The eatery could open at the former Tessuti store

A former Chester city centre clothes store could be turned into a new Thai restaurant. Plans have been lodged by Thai restaurant chain Giggling Squid to convert the former Tessuti retail unit on Bridge Street.

The Grade II listed building, originally a townhouse, had been a public house and later a restaurant before planning approval was secured in the 1980s for it to be converted into a retail unit. Tessuti permanently closed its doors at the premises earlier this year having been based there since 2017.

Now, full, listed building and advertising consent applications have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council by Giggling Squid. The restaurant brand previously had a site in Alderley Edge but it closed last year after 18 months.

The nearest site to Cheshire is in Shrewsbury, but most of the chain's venues are located in the south. The heritage statement, submitted on its behalf, states: "The internal alterations proposed will pose no impact to the historical fabric of the building, since most existing interior elements are dated to 1980 or later, and minor alterations would be made to the existing interior layout.

"The existing building has previously been a public house and a restaurant, and the proposal of a new restaurant will encourage pedestrian footfall to The Rows. The proposed demolition of internal partitions on ground floor would reinstate visual links between Commonhall Street and the interior of the building, increasing public interest. The reactivation of the shopfront at Row level and the external dining space will encourage pedestrian footfall at Row level."

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