International restaurant chain Nandos will create more than 30 jobs at its new Abbey Centre location in north Belfast.
Adding to three existing locations in Belfast and one in Derry Nandos, known for its flame-grilled peri-peri chicken, opens its fifth restaurant in the north today (Wednesday), in a major boost for the Newtownabbey shopping centre.
Commercial property agent Lambert Smith Hampton acted on behalf of Abbey Centre to secure the new tenant.
The investment will create 30 full and part-time jobs for the area, ranging from cashiers, grillers to managers.
The new restaurant’s design includes woven pendant lighting, clay wall finishes and splashes of crimson, providing a backdrop to original art from emerging and established Southern African artists, in homage to Nando’s Southern African heritage.
An outdoor seating area with variegated plants will seat 28 alongside room for 116 diners in doors.
Regional managing director of Nandos Lorcan Feely said the team was excited about the new restaurant.
"We’ve a great location, with access to the restaurant from both inside and outside the centre, perfect for shoppers, visitors and students from the nearby university," he said.
Jonathan Martin, associate director at Lambert Smith Hampton said the addition of Nandos was a "major boost" for the Abbey Centre.
"With further upsizing to the scheme completing this summer, Abbey Centre is well positioned for another successful year. We are delighted to have secured Nando’s as a new tenant and we are confident that they will be a big hit with consumers," he added.
Last year Next completed a major multi-million pound redevelopment at the shopping centre, creating one of the largest Next stores in Ireland, while retailers including Dunnes Stores, Holland and Barrett and Argento have also previously increased the size of their units at the centre.
