Merry Hill welcomes Ask Italian and Sides

Restaurant chain Ask Italian and YouTuber-led fast food concept Sides have opened at Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Dudley.

Opening a 3,350 sq ft restaurant, Ask Italian at Merry Hill features the chain’s refreshed concept, providing space for 140 diners and offering Italian-inspired dishes.

Meanwhile, Sides has taken a 2,960 sq ft space accommodating 100 covers. The restaurant is the second standalone site for the concept, which is led by YouTube group The Sidemen.

The group – which is headed up by the likes of YouTubers KSI, Miniminter, and Zerkaa – launched Sides in 2021. The concept has since garnered somewhat of a cult following and has seen success across various spaces in London.

Jack Gordon, senior asset manager at Sovereign Centros, said: “The openings of both ASK Italian and Sides, two different but equally popular brands, marks another significant step in providing Merry Hill’s visitors with an increasingly diverse range of culinary options. These new additions are further evidence that we are committed to delivering our long-term strategy for the centre, curating a fulfilling, varied, and best-in-class experience for our community.”

The arrivals of Ask Italian and Sides at Merry Hill follow a number of recent food and beverage and leisure additions at the scheme. This includes the opening of bowling operator Hollywood Bowl and Asian restaurant Wagamama. Wingstop is also set to make its arrival at Merry Hill next year.

JLL and Time Retail Partners represent Merry Hill, whilst ASK Italian dealt direct.