After opening its first restaurant in 2009 in Hove, Giggling Squid has established a strong reputation for its authentic, rustic and fresh Thai cooking with the emphasis on street food and coastal specialities. The food, described by The Times as “exciting”, is prepared by master Thai chefs using fresh ingredients, sourced locally where available.
Giggling Squid will open next in Henley-on-Thames on 6 November. This latest opening will take the group’s total number of venues to five, adding to sites in Brighton, Hove and Crawley in Sussex and Tunbridge Wells in Kent
The lunch menu offers a choice of six Tapas-style ‘tasting sets’ that allow diners to sample several different dishes in a single sitting, costing between £8.00 and £10.50. Thai Tapas dishes can also be ordered one at a time with 16 individual dishes priced under £3.90.
The evening menu is more extensive with about 40 dishes available, and features their signature “Giggling Squid” – steamed baby squid filled with minced chicken, squid and herbs with basil and chilli.
Henley – the base for big expansion plans
Giggling Squid owner Pranee Laurillard plans to move with her husband Andy and family from Hove to the area. Andy comments:
“We’ve fallen in love with Henley and from a logistical point of view, with plans to expand the business north round the M25 and west along the M4, it also makes sense to be located here.”
The pair share ambitious expansion plans, intending to extend their operations to 50 sites over the next 5 years:
“There are no national Thai restaurant chains despite the increasing popularity of the food – we are hoping to be the first. It’s all about getting the food right.”
Giggling Squid
40 Hart Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxon RG9 4AU