A RESTAURANT serving East Asian food will be coming to Winchester, developers have confirmed.

Wagamama was expected to open on Jewry Street in October but developers have said planning complications have led to a delay.

A spokesman for Versant Developers said: “The planning application has taken much longer than we anticipated but we are going ahead and are very excited to be a part of this project.

“This type of eaterie is very much in high demand, particularly in Winchester where quality food is already available, and we’re looking forward to welcoming new custom.”

As previously reported in the Chronicle, Versant Development had applied for planning permission for a change of use of Century House – a Winchester Family Church site - to turn the site into a restaurant across the lower and ground floors, along with four apartments.

Southampton, Basingstoke and Portsmouth already have their own Wagamamas, and the news will be seen as another boost for Jewry Street.

Last year saw the opening of a high-end coffee and wine bar, Black, White, Red, part-owned by England Rugby captain, Chris Robshaw, on a site that had been empty for three years.