TGI Friday’s, Prezzo and Handmade Burger Company to open in Telford

TGI Friday’s, Prezzo and the Handmade Burger Company, are to open in Telford as part of the Southern Quarter development at Telford Shopping Centre.

The new restaurants will be situated next to Cineworld and will complement the existing restaurants in Southwater.

The 26,500 sq ft Southern Quarter is to be built on the site of the former Focus DIY store or ‘Green Shed’ which was demolished in 2014.

The contemporary building will feature an elegant, gently-curved frontage creating a new landscaped public area and space for the restaurants and cafes to have extensive outside seating while creating an attractive public route between the new ASDA supermarket, Southwater and the entrance to Telford Shopping Centre itself.

Construction work is due to start at the end of this month and it is expected that the restaurants will open from the autumn of 2016 onwards.

Alexandra Pugh of Sovereign Centros, which is managing the redevelopment of the shopping centre, said: “These three lettings total nearly 14,000 sq ft, so that the Southern Quarter is now almost 60% pre-let. We also have strong interest in the two remaining restaurant units within the scheme, so it’s all systems go. “Work is due to start on the site over the next few weeks and we expect the first restaurants to open in time for the build up to Christmas 2016.”

Councillor Shaun Davies, cabinet member for Business at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “The investment made into Telford Town Centre is helping to boost the borough’s night-time economy and improve the destination’s tourism offer.

“This announcement helps to reinforce that there is significant business confidence in Telford – the fastest growing town in the West Midlands. We welcome this investment and continue to work with Telford Shopping Centre to make Telford a great destination to live, work, visit and invest in.”

The Southern Quarter is the first phase of the multi-million pound development masterplan that is set to transform the shopping centre. The plans for phase two, the 70,000 sq ft Northern Quarter, were given the green light in August and will create up to seven new stores in a redevelopment of the old ASDA supermarket facing Red Oak car park.