A new 'super-restaurant' in Norwich will create 120 jobs and will be the biggest in the whole region with 600 seating places.

More details have today emerged about the new Za Za Bazaar restaurant coming to the Riverside centre next spring.

A �2.5m redevelopment programme will begin early next year to create the new restaurant, which will be based on the site of the former Squares bar, and the 25,000 sq ft operation will open in the spring.

The restaurant will be the second in a groundbreaking national brand, offering diners cuisine from India, China, Japan, the Far East, South America and Europe at fixed prices.

The company is expected to start recruiting new staff early next year.

It's more good news for the city's economy after it emerged that three new small businesses had opened in the city centre in the last few weeks.

Simon Howlett, Za Za Bazaar marketing manager. said: 'The launch of our first restaurant in Bristol created a massive stir, with 7,000 guests dining here in the first week alone and newspaper reports commenting on the new brand appearing around the globe.

'We are now bringing Za Za Bazaar to Norwich. Local people will be able to enjoy the energy, originality and sheer fun of the Za Za experience for themselves.

'Thirty specialist chefs will run our Norwich restaurant, creating authentic dishes from around the world with something for everyone to enjoy.'

The driving force behind the new concept is celebrated international chef Nitin Bhatnagar, who said Norwich was chosen as the second city for the new concept because it was 'a vibrant city, with a great number of families, students and young people.'

The news has been welcomed by Alasdair Peat, who runs the Queen of Iceni Wetherspoon pub at the centre. He said: 'I think it's great and it will bring more people to the Riverside centre.'

Caroline Williams, chief executive of Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, also welcomed the announcement.

She said: 'It shows that Norwich continues to offer a vibrant and thriving retail and leisure sector, which will attract visitors from across the county and beyond.'

See page 8 of today's Evening News for more details on the three new businesses that have recently opened in the city centre.

Do you know about a new restaurant or business coming to Norwich? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.