Cardiff is the new place to be. At least that’s according to the founder of Wahaca, Thomasina Miers, who has announced plans to open an outpost in the Welsh capital this autumn.

The city, congenial as it is, has always been a bit of a restaurant desert, a fact implicitly acknowledged by Miers in her bullish explanation for the new location. She told Caterer & Hotelkeeper that Cardiff is “a young, vibrant city with a fantastic concentration of retail and leisure” (but not, it seems, quality eating experiences).

The new restaurant will open in the St David’s shopping centre, which already plays host to eateries such as Carluccio’s and TGI Fridays. Wahaca have done shopping centres before – a branch opened at Bluewater in 2012 – but this is the first time they’ve gone significantly beyond the M25 comfort zone.

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