A restaurant that helped to reshape Swindon’s dining scene is marking its 20th anniversary.
Los Gatos has become a fixture of Old Town since opening, drawing regulars back not just for its food but for its atmosphere and sense of community.
Its initial home was on Wood Street but it is now a firm favourite of the Devizes Road hospitality scene.
The business was founded by Phil Saunter and Shareen Campbell after redundancy brought his career in the semiconductor industry to an end.
He said: “I didn’t start out with the intention of necessarily opening a tapas bar. I’d always loved cooking, and when I got made redundant, I started looking at opportunities.
"We’d been travelling quite a lot to Spain and we liked tapas bars. I did a bit of research, and there’d never been a tapas bar in Swindon.”
Spotting a gap in the market, Phil took on a small former café on Wood Street in Old Town.
What began as a 20-cover venue quickly attracted attention, with bookings filling up before the doors had fully opened.
He said: “By the time we opened, we had bookings into the middle of July. There were Post-it notes everywhere with people’s names and phone numbers. The first few weeks were absolute mayhem.”
At the time, tapas was unfamiliar to many local diners. The restaurant’s social, sharing-style approach offered something different and it soon developed a loyal following. As demand grew, the business expanded to a larger site on Devizes Road.
Despite the move, the lively bar culture and informal atmosphere remained central to its appeal. Staffing also played a key role in shaping its identity.
Phil said: “We always paid our staff more than minimum wage. They always had an equal share of the tips. We did everything we could to support them; we had, probably, 15 [staff] who were Spanish. It added authenticity.”
Over the years, the restaurant became closely linked with significant life moments for many customers.
Phil said: “We’ve had people who came here on their first date, celebrated their engagements here, celebrated their weddings here, and brought their babies here. That’s the kind of thing that makes you well up a bit.”
The Covid-19 pandemic ultimately marked the end of the founders’ involvement, with the decision taken to hand the business on rather than rebuild it again later in life.
In 2022, the venue underwent a major refurbishment, expanding to 120 covers and introducing a more refined setting while retaining its established character.
New additions have included hand-carved Jamón Ibérico and large-format wine service, designed to enhance the dining experience. Two decades after opening, Los Gatos remains a prominent part of Swindon’s hospitality scene in Old Town.
Its continued popularity reflects not just its menu but its ability to evolve while maintaining the atmosphere that first drew customers through its doors.
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