Bella Italia to open at New Brighton's Marine Point

Italian restaurant chain Bella Italia is to open at New Brighton’s Marine Point development.

The opening comes as the chain continues its expansion across the UK.

Operated by the Casual Dining Group (CDG), it plans to open 40 new sites by 2017. An average of 1,000 roles will be created per year, at locations across the country, an investment trend that Bella Italia expects to continue year on year for the foreseeable future.

The restaurant will take the unit previously occupied by tapas bar and restaurant La Tasca.

The Casual Dining Group, the Bella Italia and Café Rouge operator, acquired La Tasca in September 2015. The deal increases CDG’s UK-wide footprint to 280 restaurants.

The Marine Point unit will undergo a £500,000 refurbishment to coincide with the company’s ‘new look’. Packed full of fun Vespas, cosy booths and quirky Italian style, the restaurant chain is undergoing a new Mediterranean design.

Refurbishment work will begin on site in February, with the new restaurant operating by March.

Marine Point, the £60m regeneration project by Promenade Estates, continues to attract big names to the complex, as the new Bella Italia will join the likes of Marino Lounge, Pizza Express and Prezzo.

New independent restaurant United Kitchen opened in December and Yorkshire brand Harry Ramsden’s is due to open later this year.

Promenade Estates, says: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Bella Italia to Marine Point. Our aim for New Brighton was to create a high quality leisure destination for families, and the addition of Bella Italia, a well-loved family friendly restaurant brand, will complement the great restaurant offering already available at the development.”

We visited the newly refurbished Bella Italia on Ranelagh Street, watch the video here