Hammerson announces that it has attracted two new restaurateurs to Southampton with Carluccio's set to open at WestQuay shopping centre and The Diner opening at WestQuay Watermark, the £85 million leisure-led development. It is the first time in the city for both brands, and the first location for The Diner outside of London.

The new 372 m2 Carluccio's will be situated in a prime location on the lower shopping level of WestQuay, alongside M&S and John Lewis's popular espresso bar, as well as other premium brands such as Karen Millen, Coast and Pandora. The popular Italian restaurant is due to open in the summer.

The Diner will occupy a 584m2 unit located on the lower promenade of WestQuay Watermark, adjoining Waterstones in WestQuay. The brand adds to the strong line of restaurants already signed up to open at the scheme, including Bill's, Jamie's Italian and Red Dog Saloon, as well as Hollywood Bowl, All Bar One, and TGI Fridays which were confirmed as new tenants earlier this month.

WestQuay has a strong track record in attracting leading retailers and restaurant brands to Southampton, with global and national brands like Victoria's Secret and Jack Wills, all making their entrance to the popular student and tourist city with Hammerson. And further to the launch of WestQuay's leisure extension at the end of the year, this will cement the centre's position as the leading retail, dining and leisure destination in the region.

Sarah Fox, Head of Restaurants and Leisure, at Hammerson, said: 'Both Carluccio's and The Diner are great additions to the line-up at both WestQuay and WestQuay Watermark and are also fantastic new dining options for Southampton. Already a retail and dining hub on the South Coast, by continuing to attract new tenants to the city we demonstrate our ability to work with leading brands to deliver the very best customer experience possible.'

Marc Francis-Baum, co-founder of The Diner, added: 'The Diner has been a huge success in London and we now feel that it is time to venture outside of the capital. Seeing Hammerson's vision for WestQuay Watermark, which will transform Southampton's dining offer and having visited the site, this scheme is the perfect first destination to make our debut outside of London.'

Hammerson plc issued this content on 29 April 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 29 April 2016 09:36:40 UTC

Original Document: http://www.hammerson.com/media/press-releases/the-diner-and-carluccios-make-southampton-debut/