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The Giggling Squid is opening its first northern restaurant in Manchester

Founded by couple Andrew and Pranee Laurillard, the restaurant has grown significantly from its early beginnings in a fisherman's cottage in Brighton

Georgina Pellant - 7th December 2021

A popular Thai restaurant called Giggling Squid is opening its doors in Manchester next year, bringing Thai-style tapas, curries, salads and cocktails with it.

Popular restaurant chain Giggling Squid first originated in Brighton under the name Mai Ped Ped Ped before rebranding when it opened its second restaurant in Hove.

Now, 41 sites later, it has revealed plans to open its first northern restaurant in Manchester’s Spinningfields district over on Hardman Square.

The new Thai restaurant will open opposite The Ivy in a vacant Spinningfields unit at some point in the new year.

It will serve a selection of Thai dishes, ranging from the likes of Phuket mussels in a red curry broth to Samui zingy prawns, Betel beef on sugar cane skewers, salt and pepper squid and chicken satay.

Whoever wrote the menu here is clearly fond of an adjective, as elsewhere you’ll find the likes of ‘delicious’ Thai chicken wings, ‘yummy’ duck spring rolls and ‘big flavour’ mushroom larb.

You’ll also find Thai staples like Paneang curry, pad Thai and lamb shank massaman on the menu, which is split into seven sections – starters, from the land, from the water, stir fry, curry, noodles and sides, and rice.

Founded by couple Andrew and Pranee Laurillard, the restaurant has grown significantly from its early beginnings in a fisherman’s cottage in Brighton.

That cottage, once the couple’s home, is still the base of their restaurant today – with diners down south able to book in to enjoy dinner in the same space where the concept was conceived.

The initial concept was to cook ‘simple, rustic, fresh Thai food’ and create a menu that ‘people could eat like they do at home’, say the couple, explaining that ‘in Thailand, mealtimes are all about lots of dishes that everyone shares’.

Whilst they acknowledge that the menu has ‘moved on a bit now’, the pair state that some of those original dishes are still guest favourites today.

To date, Giggling Squid has restaurants across the country – all located in various towns across the south of England. The new Manchester site will be its first proper northern opening, joining fellow Thai newcomer Rosa’s Thai Cafe and longstanding Thai favourite Thaikhun in the glittering business district.

To find out more and keep up to date with any new developments, make sure to follow the Giggling Squid on social media here. Check out the restaurant’s website and menu here.

Feature image – Giggling Squid