Bella Italia will open its first restaurant in Kent at the St James's development in Dover.

It was announced today that the Italian chain restaurant will be coming to the £60m retail and leisure development.

Casual Dining Group, operator of some of the UK’s well-known restaurant brands, has signed a pre-let agreement on a 3,751 sq ft restaurant that will form part of the St James’s development in the heart of Dover town centre.

Cllr Paul Watkins, leader of Dover District Council, said: “It’s great news that Bella Italia has chosen Dover as the location for their first restaurant in Kent. This is another strong indication of investor confidence in the town.”

It will be located next to popular American diner restaurant Frankie and Benny's.

The St James’s development will also include a six screen Cineworld cinema, 108-bed Travelodge hotel, 16,000 sq ft M&S Simply Food store, and 10 other retail units and six restaurant/café units.

Clive Lynton, development director for developers, Bond City, said: “We’re delighted to have Bella Italia join us at St James’s. Their great quality, all-day dining experience is the perfect match for our mixed-use development with its town centre location, high footfall, and broad range of tenants.”

Bella Italia has 90 restaurants nationwide, first opening in the early 1990s.

The Casual Dining Group has plans to open 70 new restaurants and create 3,100 new jobs over the next three years across its Café Rouge and Bella Italia formats.