Express & Star

TGI Friday's is coming to the Black Country!

TGI Friday's is to open a restaurant in Walsall - the first in the Black County for the American food giant, it has been revealed.

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The big name restaurant is to form part of the £12 million Walsall Waterfront complex in the town centre.

It is the fifth retailer to be secured for the cinema-led complex off Wolverhampton Street and has been hailed as a coup for the town.

It is the final unit as part of the first phase and comes after Chiquitos, Hungry Horse, Pizza Express and Bella Italia signed up for the development last year.

The eight-screen Light cinema forms the centrepiece of the ambitious complex with work pushing ahead for an opening by next spring.

TGI Fridays' other restaurants in the West Midlands are in Birmingham, Sutton Coldfield and Solihull.

It is thought the new restaurant will create dozens of new jobs.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader for Walsall Council said: "I'm delighted that TGI Fridays is coming to the town which will no doubt prove to be a huge hit with families.

"Bringing in such a big name is a sign of real progress for Walsall and I'm really looking forward to the venue's grand opening early next year.

"This latest announcement will perfectly complement the other restaurants already confirmed at Waterfront, which include Chiquitos, Hungry Horse, Pizza Express and Bella Italia."

The new cinema building will be handed over to the operator this month

Phil Dove, head of UK operations for Light Cinemas, added: "We're excited and looking forward to welcoming TGI Fridays to Walsall which will add to the variety of restaurants at Waterfront which people may use when visiting our new cinema."

Developers Kier is leading the multi-million pound project and handing over the cinema building to the operator this month. It will be kitted out with the latest hi-tech screen technology.

Walsall's last town centre cinema closed in 1993 to make way for the regeneration in Park Street.

The venue was replaced by the building at the top end of the town now occupied by Poundland and Pure Gym.

It comes as regeneration work is being carried out in the town with a Primark opening as part of the revamp of the Old Square Shopping Centre earlier this summer.

Walsall Council leader Mike Bird said: "It just shows Walsall is now becoming a destination for development.

"We hope it will be a destination for shopping and leisure, that is what we are working on."

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