FESTIVAL Place has confirmed it is 'in talks' with a Spanish tapas chain after Pizza Hut announced it would be leaving the centre later this month.

The town centre Pizza Hut restaurant in Basingstoke’s major shopping centre will close at the end of this month, it has been confirmed.

The restaurant in Festival Place will close on Saturday, May 28.

A spokesperson for Pizza Hut Restaurants said: “Like many hospitality businesses, Pizza Hut Restaurants has faced disruption due to the pandemic. We are saddened by the closure of our Festival Place Restaurant, Basingstoke, however this was beyond our control."

However, the unit could soon become home to a Spanish tapas chain, after Festival Place told the Gazette its 'in talk' with a potential new occupier.

READ MORE: Pizza Hut restaurant in Basingstoke’s Festival Place to close

When asked about plans for the section of the shopping centre - now that both Debenhams and Pizza Hut will be vacant - Neil Churchill, centre director at Festival Place said: “I can confirm that Pizza Hut will be closing its doors on Saturday, May 28. Having been a much‐loved destination here, we are sad to see them leave.

"However, we are talking to exciting Spanish restaurant chain, Tapas Revolution, which we hope will join our evolving food and beverage offer, which has included the recent openings of Five Guys and BrewDog.”

Tapas Revolution launched in 2010 and currently has nine branches around England. It describes its food as "traditional and modern Spanish dishes, freshly made every day".

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