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They've
been spreading Latin fever all around the country for the past 15
years; now Las Iguanas comes back to its roots to open its 10th site
at one of Bristol's hottest harbourside locations, Anchor Square, in
July.
Las Iguanas
have grown from humble beginnings in St. Nicholas Street, Bristol, to
become the largest privately owned group of Latin American
restaurants in the UK with restaurants well established in Bristol,
Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield, Leeds
and Brighton.
Hot on the
Cuban heels of the opening on Bristol Harbourside, Las Iguanas will
be flinging open the doors of its first ever London restaurant at the
Royal Festival Hall near the London Eye in August. The new 225-seater
restaurant positions this ambitious, independent operator in the
heart of the capital at what is expected to be one of the busiest new
pedestrian thoroughfares in London.
The new
Bristol site will employ 40 people, and new manager Sara Roberts is
currently recruiting. This will bring the total of staff employed by
Metrodiner to nearly 300 countrywide.
Eren Ali,
Managing Director of Las Iguanas says: "We're thrilled to be
able to celebrate our 15th birthday at home in Bristol with what is a
funky and contemporary take on Latin America. We are sure that
Bristolians will love the vibe just as much as our original
restaurant in St Nicholas Street, or Las Iguanas in Clifton."
The new
140-seater restaurant and bar on Anchor Square is already taking
shape. Its bright and bold interior has been inspired by the team's
regular visits to South America where they source modern interior
design features and eye-catching artefacts. Look out for
specially-commissioned Brazilian wood mosaics, bamboo furniture,
curvy booths and cool lighting.
The style
extends outdoors to the piazza where diners will be able to eat al
fresco while soaking up the sun and watching the world go by in true
Latin style.
Eren says:
"Anchor Square is definitely more uptown Rio compared to the
cosy neighbourhood feel of our much-loved Whiteladies Road
restaurant, but both are unmistakably Las Iguanas. Despite our growth
as a company we don't have a chain mentality and endeavour to make
all our sites unique"
This new
microcosm of Latin life in the centre of Bristol and London will be
the place to enjoy a feast of fresh and imaginative regional dishes
with a twist.
Las Iguanas
are renowned for their Latin spirit - literally! The group imports
its own brand of Cachaça and every restaurant has an in-house
cocktail bar called a Cachaçaria (ca-sha-sa-ria). The cocktail
of choice is a Caipirinha made from Las Iguanas' Magnifica
Cachaça produced by the company from its own sugar cane
plantation just outside Rio de Janeiro.
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