Plans unveiled for Thai eatery at music store site

A Thai restaurant catering for more than 200 diners could open at the site of a former music store in York city centre.

Plans for the Giggling Squid venue, which would be based at the former Banks Musicroom store in Lendal, have been submitted to City of York Council.

The restaurant would accommodate 203 people across the ground and first floors of the building, according to an application submitted by Giggling Restaurants Ltd.

The company, which also has a restaurant in Harrogate, plans to offer on-site staff accommodation.

An application to license the restaurant for alcohol sales was lodged in June, following the approval of initial plans in May.

The council also approved an application to put the restaurant chain's signage onto the building, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The first Giggling Squid restaurant opened in Brighton in 2002 and the company now has 50 restaurants across the UK, with plans for the York outlet announced in February 2024.

The latest plans for the York restaurant showed there would be seats for 113 diners on the ground floor and 90 on the first.

Staff accommodation with three bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms and a shared kitchen would be installed in the second floor.

Giggling Squid was founded by husband and wife Andy and Pranee Laurillard and its menu includes curries, noodles and pad Thai.

The company, which also has plans to open a branch in Leeds, has not yet confirmed an opening date for the York venue.

The city centre site was previously home to what was believed to be the oldest music shop in the UK.

Banks Musicroom could trace its roots back to a shop which opened on Blake Street in 1756.

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