Cafe-bar operator, Loungers is the latest restaurant to join the £100m Friars Walk development in Newport when it opens in November this year.
Loungers will take a 3000 sq ft unit in Usk Plaza, the leisure section of Friars Walk and it will be the ninth restaurant to take space.
Alex Reilley, Executive Vice Chairman of Loungers, said, “We already have a presence in South Wales with 4 restaurants in Cardiff and are really excited to be opening a Lounge in Newport City Centre.
'We will be naming our Newport restaurant ‘Drago Lounge’, which is Italian for Dragon and fitting as we will be located close to the Newport Gwent Dragons rugby ground.
'Newport is currently undergoing a massive transformation and Friars Walk will make a big difference to the city, we are excited to be part of this change.”
Construction of the 390,000 sq ft retail and leisure scheme in the heart of Newport city centre is well advanced, it is 65% let and opens in November this year.
Loungers will join Le Bistrot Pierre, Las Iguanas, Nandos, Chiquito, GBK, Prezzo and Cosmo and will be located close to Cineworld, an 8-screen multiplex cinema.
On completion the scheme will provide an estimated 1,200 jobs worth around £15m in salaries a year to the local economy. This is in addition to the jobs created during the construction phase and the potential for local companies to be involved in the supply chain of the centre.