Restaurant group Wagamama has unveiled plans to reopen around half of its restaurants for outdoor dining on April 12, including its branch at the Festival Place in Basingstoke.

The noodle and katsu chain confirmed that 72 of its eateries will be able to open for al fresco dining next month as restrictions ease under Boris Johnson’s road map out of lockdown.

According to the Prime Minister’s plan to ease restrictions, outdoor drinking and dining is allowed at pubs and restaurants from April 12.

It will mark a welcome step for restaurants with outdoor space after the sector was forced to close to everything except takeaway orders since the third lockdown began at the beginning of the year.

From April 12, diners will be able to meet in a group of up to six people from different households, while a maximum of two households can meet to form a group of any size.

Indoor dining will only be allowed after May 17, when Wagamama will look to reopen the remainder of its restaurants.

A Wagamama spokesman said: “We’re excited to begin this first stage of reopening to our guests.”

“Our outdoor dining experience offers guests the same great Wagamama experience whilst complying with coronavirus safety regulations, ensuring both guest and staff safety,” he added.

The group, which launched its biggest ever vegan range in January, will continue offering delivery and click and collect across its chain.

Here is the full list of Wagamama sites in South East and South West set to reopen for outdoor dining from April 12:

South East:  Milton Keynes, Bletchley, St Albans, Bracknell, Chichester, Horsham, Maidstone, Basingstoke, Norwich, Ashford, Whitely Fareham, Portsmouth, Crawley, Cambridge Leisure, Basildon, Peterborough, Bedford, Bury St Edmonds, Ipswich, Lakeside, Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Guildford, Staines, Stevenage, Sevenoaks, Reading, Canterbury, Colchester, Watford, Uxbridge.

South West: Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol Cabot Circus, Dorchester, Swindon, Gloucester Quays, Trowbridge, Salisbury.