New Forestside restaurants to create 100-plus jobs
More than 100 new hospitality jobs are set to be created with the opening of a number of new restaurants at Forestside Shopping Centre in south Belfast.
The move follows the purchase of the centre by Mussenden Properties Limited, a vehicle for Michael Herbert, last September.
Mr Herbert previously appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List after making Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) an empire in Northern Ireland along with his wife Lesley.
The shopping centre, now known as Lesley Forestside, was bought for £42m, about £5m above the asking price.
The latest expansion plans for Lesley Forestside include the construction of new restaurants with the works due to start in early January.
The new venues are expected to open for business in mid-July and create over 100 new job opportunities.
The shopping centre has over 35 units, chief among them Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer and Dunnes Stores.
A spokesperson said: “We are thrilled to announce that we are expanding our business with the construction of new restaurants at Lesley Forestside.
“The building works will begin on January 4, 2024, and we anticipate that they will take around six months to complete.
“During this time, there might be some disruption to our carpark. However, we assure you that we will make every effort to keep this inconvenience to a minimum. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding during these works.
“Our team will be present in the carpark to assist you, and the entrance to our underground, M&S, and multi-storey areas will remain unchanged. Once the construction is finished, the new restaurants will open for business in mid-July.
“This expansion will not only enhance the food offering at Lesley Forestside but also create over 100 new job opportunities for the local community.
“We are incredibly excited about this new chapter and look forward to serving you in our expanded space. Thank you for your continued support!”
