Founders Peter and Elaine Kinsella opens their first Lunya restaurant and Catalan deli in College Lane, Liverpool, eight years ago. They now run a second outlet in Manchester. Tony McDonough reports

Spanish-themed restaurant brand Lunya is to open a new outlet in Liverpool’s Albert Dock called Lunyalita this summer.

Founders Peter and Elaine Kinsella opens their first Lunya restaurant and Catalan deli in College Lane, Liverpool, eight years ago. They now run a second outlet in Manchester and the Liverpool operation moved to new premises on the same street last year.

The couple say the growing popularity of Lunya’s offer has prompted the decision to open the third outlet in Albert Dock, which attracts millions of visitors every year.

Elaine said: “It seems that both locals and tourists can’t get enough of what we’re doing and naturally that’s very satisfying in one way but we do need more space to satisfy ongoing demand.

“Our sales in Liverpool have shot up by more than 25% since our move and we are confident of the demand continuing – our customers have told us so. 

“We have often thought about giving birth to a ‘baby Lunya’ compared with our first two – Lunya Manchester and Liverpool are both more than 5,000  sq ft. We were made aware of a perfect opportunity at Albert Dock with space of 3,000 sq ft available to develop our idea and we’re keen to show that Lunya can work in different formats.

“It will also make us more investor-friendly for when we decide to grow further or even hang up our apron strings.”

Peter added: “Our unit is opposite the arena and big wheel, next to the Beatles Story, the main entrance to the Albert Dock and, we overlook the dock too.

“Plus we have a close emotional attachment to the Albert Dock. Elaine and I had our wedding reception here in 1988 and it seems serendipity that we can open here in our 30th wedding anniversary year.”

Lunyalita promises to be full of character, complete with 150-year-old paving stones, vaulted ceilings and a glorious sun terrace.

“It will enable us to appeal to a more tourist-led market and help Albert Dock attract more local trade too,” added Peter.