RESTAURANT Pepe’s Grill has officially opened in The Market Place Shopping Centre.

Located in the newly-refurbished Vaults, the eatery will serve a selection of chicken and vegetarian dishes, burgers and salads.

The brand Pepe’s was founded in London in 2004, when the whole concept of piri piri was new to the UK.

Today it has 52 restaurants across the UK, making Bolton its 53rd.

It was originally due to launch at the end of October but the opening was delayed.

The restaurant joins an array of new food establishments that have opened in the renovated Victorian vaults, following a £20m Market Place refurbishment.

Also in The Vaults is Prezzo, Nandos, The Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Great Ale at the Vaults.

Most recently The Light Cinema opened its doors to its nine-screen, 1,200 seat complex.

There is also an adventure themed jungle play area — Amazonia — for children.

Last week the shopping centre received the top award at the The Revo Annual Dinner and Gold Awards in the Refurbishment and Extension category.

It was awarded for its “ambitious transformation” of the centre into a “contemporary retail and leisure destination”.

In the shopping centre a selection of new stores including Topshop and Topman, The Entertainer, Body Shop, New Look, Scotts and Clarks have also opened.

Nikki Wilson-Cook, centre manager said: “We’re really excited to officially welcome Pepe’s Grill to Market Place. The restaurant will provide customers with a casual alternative for dining with friends and family, to complement our existing line-up.

“Our aim is to provide the people of Bolton with the most varied dining offer we can and this recent addition certainly allows us to achieve this objective.”

As a special opening offer, the restaurant will be distributing 40 per cent off vouchers to lucky customers to enjoy.

Pepe’s are also able to provide customers with the opportunity to pre-order food to take away via their mobile phone app.