Third Prezzo in area to open

An artists impression of how the new Prezzo restaurant will look when it opens and Coun David Henderson (inset)

Prezzo, which already has a restaurant in St Annes Square and will open up in Victoria Street in November, has now revealed plans to serve up Italian dishes to diners in Poulton.

The chain will spend £650,000 on its new restaurant in the Teanlowe Centre and employ 15 members of staff.

Spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “We are very keen to open a Prezzo restaurant in Poulton-le-Fylde.

“Our aim is to start development work in December, with the restaurant opening in March 2016.

“It will have seating for 138 guests, 104 in the main restaurant, and 34 in an outside eating and drinking area.”

Prezzo will occupy a corner unit beside the shopping centre’s entrance, opposite the Post Office and beside Lloyds Pharmacy, and vacated by the Cosy Corner cafe.

It hopes to create an outside seating terrace and currently has an application for planning permission lodged with Wyre Council.

Conservative councillor David Henderson said: “Whilst we welcome investment in the centre of Poulton, especially in the retail sector, which shows the town is a place of destination and somewhere to come and shop, I feel a more diverse retail offering would benefit the town greatly.

“It’s good a national chain recognises Poulton’s potential. I feel it would also benefit the town if there were a greater choice of small retail businesses.”

The £20m redevelopment of the Teanlowe Centre got underway in October 2013.

It involved the demolition of the western part of the centre, which contained, among others, Co-op and WHSmith.

And a new road linking Hardhorn Road and Blackpool Old Road – opened as part the development last month in a bid to ease congestion in the area.

Prezzo opened its restaurant in St Annes Square last December in what was previously known as the Sandhills Bar, creating 18 new jobs in the process.

And, following a £700,000 transformation, 15 workers will cater for up to 82 guests at the former Liberal Club in Victoria Street in Blackpool later this year.

Workmen have been installing a new glass front on the locally listed three-storey building, which was last used to house fashion retailer Republic and dates back 116 years.

The chain’s menu currently offers a range of popular Mediterranean dishes, including pizzas, calzone, pasta, risotto, and salads.