Around 150 new jobs are to be created with the creation of a food hall at the flagship John Lewis store at Bluewater.

Bosses at the store are to transform the basement into a food hall - a move which will end Marks & Spencer's ten-year grocery monopoly at the Kent shopping centre.

Simon Russell, managing director of John Lewis Bluewater, said recruiting would begin "early next year" for 150 new posts in the food hall. Some 1,200 staff already work at the store.

Since Bluewater first opened its doors in 1999, hungry and tired shoppers have only had one place to grab their trolley full of food supplies on their way home - Marks & Spencer.

Now, space that has been used for storage beneath the John Lewis store will become the retailer's only food hall outside London, as part of a £20million refurbishment.

Mr Russell said: "Customers have been asking for a food hall for some time. It will provide an alternative for them.

"It is an exciting project for everyone involved at the branch. We are confident that customers at John Lewis Bluewater will really appreciate the enhanced shopping experience."

The John Lewis partnership also operates Waitrose supermarkets and the food hall will be run under the Waitrose brand.

A John Lewis statement said the food hall would provide "the convenience of shopping for everyday groceries alongside the indulgence of speciality and artisan foods".

Andrew Parkinson, general manager of Bluewater, said the new food hall would make a "significant contribution to our overall guest experience".

The John Lewis Partnership operates 27 department stores across the UK, website and catalogue business John Lewis direct, 193 Waitrose supermarkets and Greenbee, a new direct services company. The business has an annual turnover of over £6billion.