Hammerson has announced that Nando’s is to open in Didcot as part of the Orchard Centre expansion. The new 2,604 sq ft restaurant will be located next to the existing Next store, and will form part of a new dining offer for the town centre.
The South African restaurant, famous for its flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken currently has over 400 restaurants across the UK.
The £50 million Orchard Centre expansion will deliver an additional 21 new high street shops, seven restaurants and cafés. The project will also transform the amount and quality of public space in the town centre, including an additional 325 car parking spaces.
Nando’s will join other major names already signed up for the 150,000 sq ft extension including an M&S Food Hall, H&M, Boots, River Island and TK Maxx, as well as Costa Coffee and Starbucks.
With the first store openings due in Spring this year, the expansion will kick-start the future growth of Didcot town centre, as part of wider plans to transform Didcot into a Garden Town and deliver 20,000 new jobs and 15,000 new homes over the next 20 years.
Andrew Berger-North, UK Director of Retail Parks at Hammerson said: “We are delighted to welcome Nando’s to Didcot, where it will complement and enhance the town’s growing restaurant offer. The ability of the Orchard Centre to attract international brands such as Nando’s is testament to its appeal.”
John Cotton, Leader of South Oxfordshire District Council, said, “With the expansion of the Orchard Centre and ongoing plans for the garden town, Didcot is fast becoming a genuine destination for shoppers and visitors alike. We are delighted that Nando’s is coming to Didcot and know that the restaurant will be extremely popular with many coming into the town centre.”