TGI Friday’s UK, the Karen Forrester-led company, is in talks to open its first transport hub site at Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, M&C Report understands.
It is thought that the group, which already operates a site in Manchester’s Cross Street, is in advanced talks to secure a unit in the upper concourse at the station for an opening next year.
The company believes it can operate up to 40 sites under non-traditional formats, including a transport hub concept, which would eventually see its total estate grow to 120 units.
As revealed by M&C Report earlier this year, the company is developing a “next generation” version of the brand, which is smaller in size and aimed at different markets.
Earlier this year, Forrester said: “I’ve always believed that the core Friday’s can get to 80 [sites], maybe a little more. There are smaller towns that I think would welcome it, but it’s almost impossible to get 7,000/8,000/9,000 sq ft [premises]. So we’d want to make sure that if we went into a smaller footprint, a smaller box, we can deliver the Fridays experience. We’re working on something that has the Friday’s DNA, including an open bar and kitchen.”
