Nando’s, Frankie & Benny’s and Subway are among the big names coming to Hempstead Valley.

The food chains are set to move into a new unit being built at the shopping centre in Gillingham.

The mall, which opened in 1978, is being given a £16m makeover. The former car showroom next to the centre, which over the years has also housed a McDonald’s and a travel agent, has been knocked down to make way for a modern building with six units.

It will be occupied by five food outlets and a building society.

To date, Portuguese chicken chain Nando’s, Italian/American restaurant Frankie & Benny’s and sandwich shop Subway have signed up.

Another kiosk-style unit and the largest restaurant unit, which measures 4,500sq ft, are still to be let but development managers TDH Estates said they are in talks with a ‘Frankie & Benny’s style’ restaurant.

Brad Critcher, from TDH Estates, said: “The idea is that people can get anything from a coffee and a roll, to a sit down lunch so they can make a day of their visit to the centre.

“The idea is to improve customer experience and allow people to stay longer.”

The project will also see the centre management offices and community hall relocated to new units alongside the restaurants, a new sheltered bus and taxi pick-up point and the creation of a shared public space to accommodate the existing farmers’ market. It is hoped the units will be ready to open by March next year.

Phase two of the work will begin in March. This will see the redevelopment of the southern mall, where the food hall is located. TDH has confirmed the current food kiosks, which include Burger King and KFC, will go.

"The idea is that people can get anything from a coffee and a roll, to a sit down lunch so they can make a day of their visit to the centre"

Mr Critcher said: “These types of food court are not as popular anymore and are quite old fashioned. Shoppers want more.”

The food hall will be replaced by one large retail unit.

Talks are taking place with a well-known name but until the firm signs on the dotted line, Mr Critcher could not confirm who it was.

All he would say is that it will be “very popular with shoppers”.

A more welcoming entrance will also be created, and the red car park will be altered to create more disabled and parent-and-child parking.