Cafe quarter planned at centre

A new restaurant and cafe quarter is planned for Kidderminster as part of the showpiece Weavers Wharf shopping centre.

Henderson Global Investors, owners of the retail park, announced the news today.

It follows hot on the heels of the disclosure only days ago that Debenhams and a hotel are set to move into Slingfield Mill, creating up to 100 jobs.

Nationally-known restaurant chains are already said to be "showing interest" in taking space in the Piano Building, which stands near Slingfield Mill.

This forms part of the final phase of the highly-successful retail park development.

The Piano Building is Grade II listed and was originally saved from demolition by the Kidderminster Historical Society, before undergoing a multi-million pound redevelopment. It gained its name because its shape resembles a piano from aerial views.

A new building adjoins the original, which has now been sensitively restored and together they are set to provide shopping, restaurant and office or residential space.

Ross Campbell, a director of agents Savills, said: "We are asking people to believe in the dream and buy into it and we do have a couple of well-known restaurant names already interested."