The taste of the Caribbean is coming to Preston

A boutique restaurant group that captures the vibrant, laid back soul of authentic Caribbean dining is set to open on Preston's high street.

Turtle Bay Caribbean Restaurant will open its doors to the public on Thursday 27th November, its first venture into Lancashire.

The company has snapped up prominent premises at Crystal House, Cheapside, in the heart of Preston's city centre, overlooking the flag market. The 175 seater restaurant will occupy the 6,875 sq ft ground floor and basement premises on a 25 year lease from a private client of Peleton Properties, with Robert Pinkus & Co. and Cheetham & Mortimer acting as joing agents on behalf of the landlord in the negotiations.

The Preston restaurant will be their second restaurant in the North West, alongside its Manchester branch. The restaurant will create 60 new jobs for the city centre and will feature a large restaurant space, central island bar and an indoor 'veranda' bar, designed to accommodate everything from long, lazy lunches to loud, proud parties.

Ajith Jayawickrema, Turtle Bay founder said: "We're particularly excited to be opening our Preston restaurant. I think it's a city that will really get the concept with its 'no nonsense' attitude and big student population. I'm looking to bring something new to the food scene." Joe Assalone, partner at Robert Pinkus & Co. said, "We are constantly looking for ways to enrich and widen the lifestyle and entertainment choices for shoppers and visitors to Preston, and for exciting opportunities that complement the existing retail in the city core. The opening of Turtle Bay is testament to the fact that confidence is starting to return to Preston's leisure market which is great news for the city centre and hopefully more diversity and take up of other empty properties on Preston's streets will follow."