Nandos among three new restaurants added to Southampton's arts complex

Nandos, The Stable and Faucet Inn will all line up in the new city centre development when it opens its doors next year.

When work is finished the striking buildings on the old Tyrrell and Green site will feature a 447-seat theatre, studio, rehearsal spaces and education spaces occupied by local organisations such as the Nuffield Theatre, City Eye and the John Hansard Gallery.

It will also contain a number of swanky apartments, some of which will be occupied later this year, while there will be a mixture of seven bars and restaurants.

It is expected that more than 300 jobs will be created at the development, which is the centre-piece of the emerging "Cultural Quarter", in the art venues, bars and restaurants.

Civic chiefs hope the new complex will be the jewel in the corner of the city's cultural offering and boost Southampton's standing on the national and international stages.

Tapas Barcelona became the first eating venue to sign up at the beginning of the year and now developer Grosvenor has announced another three names.

Dorset-based The Stable offers more than 80 varieties of craft cider and pizzas with locally-sourced ingredients, while its outlets feature comfy interiors with wooden tables, candles and fires.

Company founder Nicki Cooper said: “We are delighted to secure this prime site. The city has a great dining and bar scene which we are thrilled to become a part of.

"We feel that the arts complex will be a fantastic complement to our artisan brand.”

Faucet Inn Ltd currently run 22 pubs, bars and hotels around the country, including Southampton's Tap Room and Cargo.

Its 2,987 sq ft bar and restaurant will be called Neighbourhood and have a range of internationally-source craft beers, cask ales and wines and spirits on the menu.

Firm owner Steve Cox said: "I know from experience that Southampton has a thriving restaurant scene and the Cultural Quarter is a great location to introduce our unique Neighbourhood concept.

"We’re thrilled to be a part of it.”

And peri peri chicken giant Nandos is already familiar name in Southampton, with an outlet at the WestQuay Shopping Centre.

The firm, which now has 1,000 outlets across the world, is planning a 3,000sq ft restaurant.

Grosvenor Britain and Ireland's project director, Simon Armstrong, said the remaining three units are under offer, saying: “We’re pleased to have secured a varied mix of operators that complement each other really well.

"They’re a perfect fit for our vision of delivering a varied and compelling restaurant offering in a location where people will want to live, work and visit.”