Cardiff Bay welcomes trio of new businesses to its waterfront

Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay’s leading dining and leisure destination, has signed three new tenants as it gears up for a busy summer.

Following a string of new openings across the UK, Giggling Squid selected Mermaid Quay as its 49th restaurant after agreeing a lease for a 4,666 sq ft unit overlooking Tacoma Square.  The Thai restaurant promises to offer visitors to the bay a dining experience that encapsulates Thailand’s rich culinary heritage in the chic surrounding of the chain’s signature interiors.

Renowned hair salon owner Ken Picton has taken a 2,220 sq ft unit next to its long-standing hair salon in Mermaid Quay for his latest venture, a chic bar and deli. The esteemed hair stylist’s latest business – Picton & Co Delicatessen – has seen the Picton brand delve in to the world of artisanal offerings, with fresh produce from local suppliers including dry-aged meats, charcuterie cheeses and baked goods.

The final new arrival to the Mermaid Quay line-up is dessert chain Urban Chocolatier, which has taken a 1,648 sq ft unit for its first Welsh location. Pioneering a revolution in gelato and patisserie craftsmanship using locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices, the new opening in Mermaid Quay is part of the brand’s plans to open 50 stores across the UK by 2030.

With over 100 million visitors since its opening in 1999, Mermaid Quay continues to establish itself as a vibrant waterfront leisure destination, now boasting an impressive array of eating, drinking and leisure venues.  Over the last five years, the waterfront destination has undergone an impressive transformation, including substantial multi-million-pound refurbishment completed in summer 2023.

Mark Nott, Centre Manager at Mermaid Quay said: “The development and growth that Mermaid Quay has seen in recent years has been fantastic, and we are thrilled to welcome Giggling Squid, Picton & Co Delicatessen, and Urban Chocolatier to our list of fantastic venues on the waterfront.

“We are committed to continuing to grow our diverse offering of dining and leisure experiences for visitors, and we believe these latest openings solidify Mermaid Quay’s position as the premier destination for culinary and retail experiences in Cardiff Bay.

“We are extremely excited to watch these new venues establish themselves in the bay and are looking forward to continuing on this upward growth trajectory.”