DINERS can relish the exotic taste of the Far East when an award-winning restaurant chain opens a new outlet at Southampton’s £85m WestQuay Watermark centre next month.

Thaikhun promises an “authentic” selection of Thai street-food in a eatery set in an “eclectic” and carefully crafted rustic street scene – even featuring an iconic tuk tuk.

The restaurant chain seating over 100 diners is the latest to announce it is opening in the multimillion pound leisure and entertainment complex in the city centre – and will create 45 new full time and part time jobs.

It comes after Hammerson’s which owns the complex launched a stunning virtual tour featuring images of the progress of the centre so far before it opens next month.

Thaikhun offers a dining experience inspired by street food from the South East Asian country and was founded by Kim Kaewkraikhot, a former street hawker from a town two hours North of capital Bangkok.

She won national awards after becoming famous in her hometown for her food - including her secret Pad Thai recipe.

The chain is operated by Thai Leisure Group, a group of 19 restaurants and bars owned jointly by Ms Kaewkraikhot and Martin Stead and has rapidly grown to become one of Britain’s leading Thai operators.

The Southampton outlet – due to open on Monday, December 5 – is the company’s tenth in the UK – following established sites in Oxford, Bath and Cambridge.

It will feature a Thai street scene, with vibrant décor incorporates bric-a-brac, specially selected artefacts imported from the country to create a memorable dining environment.

Work is well underway on the 5,371 sq ft site which is undergoing a £850,000 fit out to include a theatre style open kitchen, extensive outdoor dining area and Thai street- market style bar area.

Ian Leigh, managing director at Thaikhun says: “This is a pivotal launch for Thaikhun, with our footprint now reaching from Aberdeen to Southampton. The West Quays Watermark development offers the perfect location in a high footfall area alongside a range of household national brands.

“Southampton is an incredible city to operate in, with a significant student population – the perfect customer base for our unique blend of fun and friendly casual dining.”

WestQuay Watermark, which include a series of restaurants including Casa Brasil, The Real Greek, Project Pie and Jamie Oliver’s chain – Jamie.

There will also be a ten-screen cinema and a bowling alley is being developed in two phases, the first opening the end of this year.

Phase two, which has yet to win detailed planning permission, could include a tower block as high as 27 storeys packed full of restaurants, shops, offices, a hotel and underground car park.