NATIONAL restaurant chains are interested in opening branches in Bolton's Market Place shopping centre, it has emerged.

Bosses at the centre are in talks with the four restaurants about coming to the new food quarter within the Victorian vaults.

The vaults are being turned into bars and restaurants and a nine-screen cinema is being built as part of a huge £14m redevelopment.

The Market Place is not confirming the names of the businesses, but manager Nikki Wilson-Cook said 'some' are national chains.

Mrs Wilson-Cook said: "There are four restaurants that we have discussed terms with, and some are national chains.

"We have had a lot of interest in the outlets which is excellent. We are keen to get a variety of restaurants, to suit every taste, so there is a choice for people. For example, we don't want two Italians next to each other, competing, we want that mix. Nowadays it is about offering people shopping, entertainment and food, and we will have all three under one roof here."

One confirmed tenant in the new-look vaults will be a real ale bar and micro-brewery, Great Ale Year Round.

The bar will be run by the same people in charge of a similar outlet at Bolton Market, selling locally brewed real ales.

Each premises will contain the original Victorian brickwork and the development is expected to be fully completed and open to the public by November.

In total there will be nine food or drink outlets in the vaults, accessible by escalators from the bottom floor of shops.

Cllr Cliff Morris, council leader, said: "This all fits in with what we’re trying to do with the town centre, and creating a better family offer in terms of the restaurants and the cinema. We’re lucky to have partners who are good as Moorgarth who have really bought into the vision we have for the town centre and are keen to help us deliver the regeneration that we all want.”

The revamp of the Market Place was announced in November, 2013, when the Moorgarth Group bought the centre from Agora, and vowed to plough millions into transforming it.

The council wants to make Bolton's town centre economy more seamless, with bosses having previously referred to a gap between shops closing at 5pm and revellers using bars and pubs.