Tapas restaurant group invests £300k to expand in Hull's Fruit Market

The owner of an independent group of authentic tapas restaurants has expanded into the cultural and creative quarter of Hull with plans to make it the flagship for the business.

Tim Sinclair has branched out from York and Leeds to bring the Ambiente Tapas brand to the Fruit Market waterside district, which will take centre stage when Hull is UK City of Culture in 2017.

Ambiente Tapas Hull has been created from a £300k investment to convert a former fruit and veg warehouse in Humber Street, in the heart of the Fruit Market. The opening has created 25 new jobs, all recruited locally.

Founded 10 years ago, Ambiente Tapas already has restaurants in York, at Goodramgate and Fossgate, and at The Calls in Leeds.

Mr Sinclair said: “It’s really exciting. There’s so much potential in Hull. It’s a sleeping giant really – a massive market that is under-served by high-quality restaurants with many people choosing to go to places like Leeds and York for a distinctive dining experience.

“We believe this can become our flagship because we’ve been able to create our ideal restaurant from a blank canvas, designed exactly as we wanted it.

“In 12 months’ time I would like to think this can surpass the commercial performance of our Fossgate restaurant in York. It’s a massive opportunity.”

The new, 3,000 sq ft restaurant has 120 covers inside and a further 40 in an outdoor seating area on Humber Street with views of Hull Marina.

The menu includes tapas favourites such as calamari, paella, meatballs, patatas bravas and sardines, as well as dishes from a Spanish Josper oven, including flame-grilled pheasant, barbecued sea bass and dry-rubbed beef skirt.

There is also a vegetarian selection, including vegetable paella, barbecued halloumi cheese skewers and black bean fritters, as well as daily specials. Diners can also choose from more than 60 wines and sherries.

Ambiente Tapas is the latest independent operation to be established as a result of the £80m regeneration of the Fruit Market being delivered by Wykeland Beal, the joint venture company formed by commercial developer Wykeland Group and housebuilder Beal Homes, working in partnership with Hull City Council.

The development partners are driving forward the Fruit Market’s transformation to realise their vision for it to be “a unique, vibrant, cultural quarter where people live, work and play”.

Mr Sinclair added: “Being involved from this early stage enables us to refine our operation and offer and also to help to define Humber Street and influence how it develops. We believe the quality of the environment, food, drinks, service and experience we offer will set the bar high and help to keep it high.

“This is such a rare opportunity to create a new destination and we’ve bought into the ethos of what Wykeland Beal is trying to create here.

“We’ve not just moved into an area surrounded by existing operations. We’re pioneers for what will happen here. It’s a work in progress, but a very exciting one.

“We’re really looking forward to the challenge of exposing the people of Hull to what we do and also bringing people from outside the city here. We’re already had customers from our other restaurants coming here to experience what we have created in the Fruit Market.”