THE new Frankie and Benny’s restaurant has received a mixed reaction from people and businesses.

The Mercury earlier this year reported that the Italian-American diner was earmarked as a potential new business for the Dolphin Square redevelopment.

A spokesman for McLaren Life, who is in charge of the Dolphin Square project, said he believed the new complex would be of benefit to the town – rather than a hindrance as North Somerset Council stated.

He said: “It’s not going to have an effect on Dolphin Square at this stage. I think any new brands coming to Weston as a good thing for the town.”

But many people have contacted the Mercury through our Facebook and Twitter sites to register their displeasure that out-of-town businesses were flourishing, seemingly at the expense of the town centre.

Susan Bishop said the council needs to improve parking facilities to make the town centre more attractive to new business projects.

Fellow reader Melody Cox agreed and said: “It should be in town. All that’s opening in town now are pound shops - yeah that’s going to entice people to go to town! Next we will have a 97p shop open!”