A RESTAURANT chain has become the latest business to sign up to the £45million Dolphin Square scheme.

Mimosa has agreed a deal with McLaren Life to take on the Carlton Street corner unit as part of the new development in Weston town centre.

It is the fifth restaurant chain to sign up to the leisure development, following the likes of Nando’s, Pizza Express, Prezzo and Real China.

Harvester was meant to be a part of the site, but pulled out in January 2014 after numerous delays to McLaren Life’s rebuild.

Mimosa is a chain offering a Pan Asian buffet. It currently runs restaurants in Aldershot, Camberley and Telford.

Sundip Grewal, Mimosa’s managing director, said: “We are delighted to be part of this exciting scheme.

“We see this central location being ideal for our format to provide a lunchtime dining experience to appeal to shoppers and workers and also the night time experience to appeal to the visitors for the cinema.

“We also will be including a new concept for our business of an adjacent function room for parties or events.”

It is the second boost in recent weeks for McLaren Life after Cineworld decided to increase the size of its proposed cinema.

McLaren Life managing director Alastair Bell said it is good to have another ‘experienced operator’ signed up, with Mimosa agreeing a 5,000sq ft premises.

He added: “This is very positive news for the scheme and follows on the back of the recent news of the significant expansion of the cinema from 1,100 to 1,572 seats including an additional screen for Cineworld.

“We hope to make further announcements in the near future.”

McLaren Life said last year it was aiming to start building work on the leisure sector by the end of March.

However it has since revised its estimate, stating work will begin ‘later this year’.

It refused to provide a more accurate timetable for work when asked by the Mercury.