A new Bella Italia restaurant is set to open its doors at a popular shopping centre in Kent later this summer.

The Italian-style family chain is heading to Westwood Cross shopping centre in Thanet and will be spending £225,000 kitting out their new restaurant.

It will replace Cafe Rouge, which closes on Sunday, and is due to open in time for the summer holidays on July 1.

The 200-seat restaurant will be the latest addition to the 53 stores and restaurants at the Broadstairs venue.

Staff and management from Cafe Rouge will be retained and transferred over to Bella Italia when it reopens.

Francesca Donovan, centre manager at Westwood Cross, said: “We can’t wait to welcome Bella Italia to the centre.

"Opening in time for the summer holidays, the latest addition to our dining offer will provide a family-friendly, all-day dining experience for our guests to enjoy."

The new Thanet restaurant will join the 110 already open across the UK.

Xenia Parker-King, who is the current Cafe Rouge manager and will lead the Bella Italia team, said: "We are all so excited about the upcoming transformation of our restaurant, and look forward to welcoming all our current guests, and of course new guests too, when we open as Bella Italia at Westwood Cross."

The company says its menu will be the most varied to date featuring 20 vegan and vegetarian options and gluten and dairy free dishes.

The news comes as pub chain Wetherspoons revealed the reopening date of Margate's seafront pub following a £500,000 refurbishment.

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