Almost all of the units at a long-awaited £115 million leisure complex are now under offer ahead of its launch this summer.

Out of the 13 spaces which need filling with bar, restaurant and cafe operators at the Riverside development in Canterbury, the city council has revealed it has tenants lined up for 12.

It is hoped the complex will be a "game-changer" for the area, and entice more people to explore the periphery of the city centre.

But the authority is remaining tight-lipped about the project, and is still keeping the identities of the incoming traders under wraps.

Council spokesman Rob Davies said: "We are pleased at the interest in the scheme and always expected there would be.

"Operators will be announced in due course, once the legal processes are concluded."

It is, however, understood that BrewDog - one of the UK's fastest growing beer brands - will be setting up its first Kent base at the site off Sturry Road.

A host of bars and restaurants are set to join BrewDog, with council chiefs previously stating there will be a mixture of well-known names and local businesses.

They will be steering clear of the likes of McDonald's and KFC, and opting for eateries in which "people need cutlery".

There had been fears the complex would be half-empty due to the council's reluctance in sharing information, but the site looks set to be almost full upon its launch in a few months' time.

The only unit still being marketed is a coffee-retail space closest to the Tourtel Road and Sturry Road roundabout.

As it stands, Curzon remains the only confirmed tenant for the sprawling site.

The firm is bidding to keep its new five-screen cinema open until 3am each day, and to sell alcohol until 2am.

Should its licensing application be approved, doors to the multiplex could open as early as 8am every day.

Once open, the premium chain - which already has a branch in the city centre - looks set to have a strong foothold in Canterbury as the leading cinema operator.

The city's Odeon has been used as a vaccination centre for the past year-and-a-half and remains out of action for film fans.

But despite constant rumours the site will be closed down, the firm says it is "fully committed" to reopening at some stage this year following the completion of roof repairs.

The Gulbenkian, meanwhile, continues to show one film in the evening - offering a cheaper rate compared with the more high-end Curzon.

An opening date for the Riverside development is yet to be revealed, but it is estimated to be in the early summer time.

Speaking back in February, council leader Ben Fitter-Harding said: "This is a bold new offering that really bolsters what Canterbury has to offer.

“It’ll definitely be a real shot in the arm. It’s a great regeneration benefit for Northgate, a brilliant change of use for that site - from a Serco depot to a leisure complex with a cinema.”