A TASTE of London's Oxford Street is coming to Bolton with a fresh look restaurant.

Bolton's Debenhams will be one of only four branches in the country to get a new look restaurant.

The refurbishment is based on the flagship London store, and if popular will be rolled out across other branches.

Restaurant manager Joanne O'Neill said the investment was spurred on by increased footfall in the Market Place and in anticipation of competition expected from the refurbishment of the shopping centre's Victorian vaults.

She said: "With the upgrade of the Market Place we have seen footfall increase by six per cent, which is really good and it's growing every week.

"The team are all really excited. This is a big investment the business is putting into the store and Bolton.

"We have got competition coming and this will see us brightening the restaurant up, with a modern contemporary feel."

The Debenhams restaurant, located in Knowsley Street, was opened in 1998.

Work started on the transformation on Monday and the restaurant remains open while work is carried out in the evening.

The completed new look is expected to be unveiled on Friday.

Store manager Karen Frain said the new look would completely refresh the restaurant.

The restaurant's dark woods and burgundy will be replaced with bright lemon and lime colours, new lighting and furnishings and colourful benches.

She added: "It will be very, very different, very clean and continental.

"Hopefully it will an environment customers find more relaxing."

The Bolton News recently revealed that chicken giant Nando’s and popular Italian chain Prezzo would be among the new restaurants taking a spot in the Vaults as part of the £14 million redevelopment of the Market Place.

Work is also continuing on the new cinema in the shopping area, which will be launched with the complex next March.

Market Place manager Nikki Wilson-Cook welcomed Debenhams investment.

She said: "I think it's fantastic news for the store to receive investment and the latest look as it's flagship Oxford Street store.

"It is a great recognition of the vaults and the competition being invested into the area."