A well-known West End restaurant is preparing to reopen after a £50,000 refit and total rethink of its business model.
Zique’s is the new name for Cafezique on Hyndland Street, which has been closed and under going a complete refurbishment for several months.
Owner Mhairi Taylor says the old business has been ripped up and reinvented.
She is optimistic for the future and believes Glasgow's hospitality industry will bounce back bigger and better in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mhairi said: “There is no getting away from the fact it’s been one of the worst years imaginable for the industry - the pandemic has sent a hurricane through hospitality.
“However, with light now at the end of the tunnel, there is every reason for optimism and a genuine opportunity for the industry to bounce back bigger and better than ever especially independents - but we have to be ready.
“Glasgow earned its incredible reputation for food and drink before the pandemic and that will remain.
“The talent is still there, as is the public’s appetite for a vibrant and diverse scene, but we must be ready to make the most of it when the time comes to open up fully again.”
The business was one of the pioneers of the city’s burgeoning food and drink scene when it opened on Hyndland Street in the city’s vibrant West End in 2001
The investment in Zique’s signals a total overhaul of the restaurant - specifically designed to cater for a shift in customers’ habits and expectations.
Mhairi and her team have stripped and ripped out the old Cafezique – named after her grandfather who acquired the nickname Zique when he fought against Franco in Spain in the international brigade.
The team has started from scratch, building a new restaurant from the ground up which is ready and prepared for ‘the new normal’.
Zique’s will retain the same focus on quality ingredients and high-end but accessible cooking.
… with light now at the end of the tunnel, there is every reason for optimism and a genuine opportunity for the industry to bounce back bigger and better than ever especially independents - but we have to be ready
Mhairi Taylor
However, the layout and business model have changed in light of lessons from the pandemic.
The new venture will have an increased focus on evening dining.
Mhairi said: “We have learned a great deal from everything that’s happened this year.
“We know how to keep our business safe, accommodating and agile; how to cope with frequent changes; and how to keep revenue streams open in the face of unprecedented limits.
“Starting over with a blank canvas means we have been able to think about every eventuality and tailor the restaurant to meet it – features like takeaway facilities, appropriate spaces to work and dine in and larger outdoor areas suitable for use almost all year round.
“Looking ahead to next summer, people will be itching to get out and enjoy themselves having spent a year unable to do what they love most – socialising.
“We have created a dining experience that will enable them to do it comfortably and safely, that they can enjoy at home, and that can adapt if life throws up any more unexpected events.
“We believe it’s the key to the industry’s future, and we can’t wait to see people enjoy it.”
- Zique’s will open next week. Follow @cafezique on social media for updates.
