One of Wales' biggest shopping centres has secured a new tenant in a large unit that has been empty for ten years.
Cwmbran Centre has signed up the Loungers group, operators of Cosy Club, to open a new café-bar and restaurant.
Carro Lounge has agreed a 15-year lease with the landlord LCP Group, a commercial property and investment company which acquired the shopping centre earlier this year as part of a £138m deal.
The new restaurant will open in the 4,700 sq ft unit in Gwent Square, which was last occupied by Square Inn in 2012.
Fit out is expected to start shortly, with a planned opening before Christmas.
Carro Lounge is the latest in a string of new tenants secured by LCP Group, one of the UK’s largest owners of local- and convenience-led retail parades. Headquartered in the West Midlands, the company has a retail portfolio of more than 9.4m sq ft at more than 370 sites.
Last month, the shopping centre, which extends to 740,000 sq ft, signed up Geek Retreat, H&T Pawnbrokers, USA Toys, and Star Sports Bet.
Alex Williams, LCP asset manager, said: “When LCP acquired Cwmbran Centre earlier this year, it made a commitment to improving the offer and attracting new tenants. This intensive asset management approach has paid dividends in only a few months, with the Loungers group taking this strategically important space that has lain empty for years.
“We are confident that local shoppers will welcome the arrival of Carro Lounge, which has a reputation for its quirky and unusual interiors. We’re looking forward to it opening its doors.”
Cwmbran Centre has 180 retail units. It is anchored by a 100,000 sq ft Asda and has a 48,000 sq ft Primark.
Other leading brands include JD Sports, River Island, Superdrug, New Look and Deichmann and there are 3,000 free car parking spaces and a dedicated bus station.
A spokesman for Lounge said: “As a business, we are passionate about how each and every one of our Lounge’s teams become engaged and embedded within their local communities and will be looking to hire those keen to make a difference in the local area.
“Our teams are encouraged to connect with their communities by working with local groups, charities, organisations and businesses that are at the heart of the fabric of local life. We want to get to know and work with our neighbours and inspire people to do good by supporting each other and supporting local good causes.”
