Big name restaurants for Walsall Waterfront
Four national chains including Pizza Express and Bella Italia will open at the Walsall Waterfront complex, it has been revealed.
A Hungry Horse pub and Chiquito Mexican restaurant will also form part of the £12 million town centre leisure development, which is led by a cinema, as bosses confirmed work is to start within weeks.
Light Cinema were confirmed for the canalside complex earlier this year and developers Kier Property have now revealed the national food and drink chains have signed up for the scheme.
Around 230 jobs will be created during the first phase of the town centre regeneration project which is expected to be completed next summer. More units are expected as part of second phase.
There are rival plans for another town centre cinema and units in Littleton Street, on land next to Tesco. A Vue cinema is due to launch as part of the Cordwell Property Group development along with surrounding restaurant space.
But the Waterfront scheme is the first to publicly confirm who has signed up and when work will start.
It has been 20 years since Walsall town centre has had a cinema after ABC closed in Park Street in 1993. Light will have at least eight screens.
James Nicholson, senior development manager for Kier Property, said: "We are delighted to be able to finally announce the involvement of these leading brands to our Waterfront leisure development.
"We have spent a considerable amount of time and effort bringing this scheme together and - alongside the Light Cinema - these lettings are evidence of the strong appeal of the scheme and the unique waterfront location.
"We will start on site this month and look forward to completing the project during summer 2015, with the local community in mind."
The 64,500 sq ft cinema will help to anchor the development near to the New Art Gallery in Walsall. There is just one unit remaining as part of the first phase of regeneration.
Phil Dove, general manager for Light, said: "These four brands complement The Light's ethos and concept of community engagement and we look forward to seeing this exciting next phase of development come together."
Marc Ward, of Pizza Express, said: "We have been keen to open a restaurant in the Walsall area for some time and therefore signing up to the Waterfront development is a significant and exciting opportunity for us."
