THE NEW year will bring with it a new restaurant for Swindon at the Regent Circus development.

ASK Italian will open a its restaurant at the retail and leisure development in January, making it the first restaurant to open there and the first for the company in Swindon.

ASK Italian’s managing director, Jason Thomas, said: “We’ve found a great site within a great community, and are looking forward to bringing the ASK Italian recipe of authentic dishes, warm service and fresh design to Swindon.

“ASK Italian is one of the UK’s leading casual dining restaurant brands, with over 110 restaurants throughout the country, driven by a passion for authentic Italian food and culture.

“With the help of expert friends Theo Randall, Carla Capalbo and Adrian Garforth MW, ASK Italian has been discovering the best of Italian life, reflected in the menus and 100 per cent Italian wine list.”

Last year ASK Italian was named Best Italian Restaurant in the Pizza and Pasta Association Awards.

Also joining ASK Italian later in the year at the Regent Circus development will be popular chain restaurants Nandos, Prezzo, Jimmy Spices and Coal, which will bring with them new jobs for the town.

The Cineworld cinema is expected to open in February, four months after supermarket Morrisons opened its doors to shoppers at the site.

James Digby, of Ashfield Land, which owns Regent Circus, said: “A lot of hard work has gone in but we are very pleased to be at this stage.

“It will be a big draw to the town centre and may help to bring further growth to Swindon.

“All but one of the units have been taken but we are in talks with several parties so hope to make an announcement in the coming weeks.”