A MULTI-million pound dining hub featuring at least four new restaurants is set to revive a large unused town centre store.
The new complex will open this summer near Asda in the former Swan Centre – the previous home of the Co-Op Home and Living shop which closed over a year ago.
Developers Caracal Properties say the new complex – to be known as Chapel Street Dining – will accommodate at least four well known restaurants, details of which are yet to be revealed.
The outside area will also be landscaped and will include seating, balconies and hanging baskets.
Lisa Byers of Caracal’s project management team said: “We’re extremely excited to be creating a hub of national restaurants for the town of Rugby, we believe it fills a currently underserved thriving town with dining quarter for both day and night.
“We have had several extremely positive and supportive meetings with the Council and Rugby First, to ensure the Swan Centre redevelopment enhances the town centres attractiveness and dining options for the community. We are very confident that we will achieve this.”
Aftab Gaffar, Managing Director of Rugby First, said: “This is great news for the town centre and a fantastic boost to the local economy. Not only will this development enhance the town centre offer but it also has the potential to create a lot of full and part-time jobs.”
Rugby Borough Council growth and investment spokeswoman Coun Heather Timms said: “The Chapel Street Dining development marks a major investment in Rugby town centre and I’m delighted the council, working with Rugby First, was able to support Caracal Properties’ plans to bring this prime retail unit back into use.
“Our Town Centre Action Plan outlined our ambition to reinvigorate the town centre and this new restaurant development can deliver a real boost to our economy, both in terms of creating jobs and attracting residents and visitors into the heart of Rugby.”
With planning permission approved, work will soon start to divide the former Co-Op building into four restaurant units – the cost and sizes of which will be determined by the tenants.
