Premier Inn and Nando's among big names for Southwater

Pizza Express, Nando's and Premier Inn are among the top names coming to Telford as part of the town's £250 million Southwater development, it was announced this afternoon.

The eight new tenants, which also include Bella Italia, Chimichanga, Harvester, Wagamama and Zizzi, will move into Southwater Square alongside an 11-screen Cineworld cinema – creating a total of 260 jobs.

The popular chains will form part of phase one of the development of Southwater and it is hoped the businesses will be open by the end of 2014.

The restaurants will face onto the square and will have terraces for outdoor dining.

John Bates, from Premier Inn, said: "Southwater Square is set to be transformed into a major leisure destination in Telford complete with a new cinema and market leading restaurants, exactly the type of development our customers want us to be in. A new Premier Inn hotel will be a great addition to the scheme, helping to create the night-time economy Telford badly needs and delivering new jobs in the town."

Stephen Wiener, chief executive of Cineworld, said: "We are very pleased to be afforded the opportunity to provide a modern multiplex facility for the residence of the greater Telford area."

Detailed approval for the development was granted earlier this month and work is due to start in August.