A taste of the States will be coming to a new town centre development as the first of its five restaurant tenants is announced.
American bar and grill Grand Central is the first eatery to announce it will be moving into the £8m Riverside development in Thetford – with hopes the 150-seat restaurant will be open by the start of 2017.
It will be a first foray into Norfolk for Ely-based company TLC Inns, which owns the chain's five restaurants.
Founders Steve and Jo Haslam, who opened their first pub in Ely ten years ago, said they wanted to be part of Thetford's regeneration.
Mr Haslam said: 'I have been looking for several months at what is going on here. It pulled me in in the end - it was different from other sites, with the passion that the council show for it as the 'new way forward for Thetford'.
'We wanted to be a part of that and we hope the people of Thetford will buy into it.
'Hopefully we will be open in time to throw a New Year's Eve party – it depends on a lot of factors.'
Mr Haslam said Grand Central was both a 'hip' and 'family-oriented' restaurant.
'The guest experience is very important to us – it is about the whole package, what we can give people that they cannot get elsewhere.'
At least 30 jobs expected to be created at Grand Central, with recruitment due to start at the end of November, and a manager from Thetford has already been appointed.
Work to fit out the new restaurant – the largest in the Riverside development – was due to start on Monday. It is expected to take 12 weeks and will be completed by the Haslams' own fit-out team, with an 'urban chic' design with reclaimed materials and graffiti art.
The restaurant will be open from 8am daily for breakfast, with lunch service including a weekday menu offer, and a full evening dinner menu. There will also be a separate bar area.
After a complete overhaul by a London food director the menu reads as a dream for carnivores – with steaks, burgers, ribs and lobster.
Breckland Council chairman Bill Borrett said: 'I am very excited to see the transformation of Thetford Riverside, a great regeneration project, and I am very proud of what Breckland Council has achieved here.
'I am really pleased that TLC have chosen to locate their next Grand Central restaurant and bar in the development. I think it is a great boost for Thetford. They are an expanding company and I can't wait to see it open so we can all come along and enjoy it.'
You can view updates on Grand Central Thetford's progress on Facebook and ask questions about the new restaurant by emailing directors@tlcinns.co.uk.
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