Restaurant chain Pizza Hut has reopened a flagship store following a £400,000 makeover, creating 15 jobs.

The new outlet at Bluewater is the first to launch in the county under new designs aimed at the casual diners.

It comes a fortnight after the shopping centre’s Showcase cinema revealed a £2m renovation.

Trademark Pizza Hut features like its ice cream factory, salad station and buffet have all been put in the centre of the restaurant, with a bar serving draught Budweiser beer.

A new menu has introduced ribs, wings and fries, along with additions to dessert such as warm cookie dough and a waffle machine.

Pizza Hut Restaurants managing director Jens Hofma said: “Bluewater is Europe’s leading retail and shopping destination, so this is a hugely important site for us.

“It attracts over 28 million shoppers every year, so we’re extremely excited to be offering our guests here the ultimate Pizza Hut Restaurants experience.”

The investment in Bluewater is part of a broader £60m refurbishment and restructuring programme paid for by private equity group Rutland Partners.

More than 60 restaurants will have undergone renovation by the end of 2014.

Meanwhile, a six-month refurbishment has turned Bluewater’s cinema into only the fourth Showcase Cinema de Lux outlet in the country.

It has added an IMAX screen to its 12 other 3D-compatible screens and revamped the VIP Gallery Bar into separate lounge and cafe bars.

Showcase vice president of international operations Duncan Short said: “We’re thrilled to be adding another Cinema de Lux to our line of cinemas in the UK.

“At Showcase, we believe that cinema should be more than just going to see a film, which is why we’ve invested a substantial amount into making our flagship Bluewater location the ultimate cinema experience on offer.”