Cinema site reels in chain restaurant

Jan 29 2008

A £25M leisure and commercial development under construction in the heart of Merthyr Tydfil has taken a major step forward by signing two more high profile brands.

Frankie & Benny’s, which already has more than 100 diners across the UK, and national chain Nando’s chicken restaurants have signed for purpose-built units at the 18-acre site which is under construction at Rhydycar.

The lettings follow decisions by UK cinema group Vue to operate a 20,000 sq ft, eight-screen cinema and Travelodge to operate a 58-room hotel at the leisure park scheme.

Frankie & Benny’s and Nando’s are scheduled to open late this summer, shortly after the opening of the Vue cinema.

The Merthyr Tydfil Leisure Project is being delivered by South Wales-based Atlantic Property Development, which was selected by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council to develop the scheme on the site of the existing Rhydycar Leisure Centre.

Centrepiece of the development will be one of the UK’s most well-equipped leisure centres, a 100,000 sq ft-plus complex that will replace the existing outdated leisure centre.

Discussions are continuing with other major occupiers, including a national family public house chain, and a 10-pin bowling complex operator.

The leisure park will also include a skateboard park, children’s play area, town houses and apartments, car parking spaces for more than 700 vehicles together with new links to public transport.

Peter Thomas, chairman and founder of Atlantic Property Developments, said, “I am delighted with the progress that we have made by securing two leading restaurant operators in Frankie & Benny’s and Nando’s.

The development borders the Welsh Assembly Government’s new 60,000 sq ft regional headquarters office building.