Very excitingly we were invited to the opening of the Giggling Squid on Friday evening, the new Thai restaurant at Victoria Works on Amenbury Lane. As the only member of the Mum’s guide to Harpenden team that was available that evening I invited a few other girls along to help me test out the Thai canapés and bubbly. It was a hard job but someone had to do it!

First impression was wow! What a difference someone with a vision can make to a venue. We walked in to see a wall of flowers in a beautiful, light, delicately decorated room. It couldn’t have looked more in tune with the beauty of a Thai island. According to the lovely Recruitment Manager, the owner of all 28 Giggling Squid restaurants oversees every detail and even shops for the soft furnishings herself. She has a meticulous eye. Floral wallpaper, white chairs and oversized booths on the raised first floor has changed this boomy ‘dining hall’ room into a much more intimate experience for couples or groups of up to about 8. It was very reminiscent of my time in Bangkok and the Far East which brought back very happy memories – think rose petals and swan towels, orchids and beautiful, gentle people. (Yes, I wear rose-tinted spectacles but reading my diaries back that was my experience!)

The food was presented in the most exquisite bamboo shells and shot glasses to give us tempting bites of what will be on offer from their substantial menu. The waiting staff were fun and attentive (I don’t think my glass ever got even half empty!) and the company had invited the perfect amount of people to enjoy the venue on this opening night. Enough room to easily move around and not have to dodge platters of fabulous food wafting by every 30 seconds but busy enough to really feel the buzz of this exciting place that is going to top the lists of everyone planning a night out in Harpenden over the coming months.

Good news for families! There is a fantastic children’s menu, high chairs and soon-to-be installed baby change facilities. So you can relax and enjoy some delicious food whilst introducing your children to some exotic cuisine and who doesn’t love noodles?!

We have already booked a table for this week to celebrate a friend’s birthday and I can’t wait to return for more giggles at the Giggling Squid.