Up to 40 new jobs are to be created after a popular retro diner chain announced plans to open a restaurant in Norwich.

Ed's Easy Diner has a number of restaurants in London and cities such as Cardiff, Birmingham and Leicester, but is looking to add Chapelfield shopping centre to its list of locations.

The restaurant, in the centre's food court, will be a 1950s-style diner with classic American food and drink, such as burgers, fries, ice cream floats and milk shakes.

The themed restaurants include neon lights and a soundtrack of 1950s rock 'n' roll courtesy of replica juke boxes.

Andrew Guy, chief executive of Ed's Easy Diner, said: 'We are delighted to be bringing Ed's Easy Diner to Norwich as we expand across the UK.

'During 2013 we're intending to add another seven restaurants to our line-up along with several milk-shake stands.

'Chapelfield fits right into our expansion programme and will allow more people than ever to enjoy our classic diner experience.'

The diner will create up to 40 jobs - 30 full-time and 10 part-time. A number of the staff will be found through Ed's Easy Diner working with a charity called Springboard.

For more than 20 years, Springboard have been helping young, unemployed and disadvantaged people into careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism.

Ed's Easy Diner is due to open towards the middle of next month.

Sheridan Smith, marketing manager at intu Chapelfield, said: 'We're really looking forward to welcoming Ed's Easy Diner to intu Chapelfield.

It broadens our catering offer even further and we're sure that its retro-American style and menu will be popular with diners.'

Ed's Easy Diner is the latest in a string of new restaurant moving to Norwich. Recent months have seen the Gourmet Burger Kitchen open at Chapelfield, while TGI Friday's plans to open a restaurant in September at the former Squares site at Riverside.

• Do you have a story about a new business heading to Norwich? Call business editor Shaun Lowthorpe on 01603 772471 or email shaun.lowthorpe@archant.co.uk