Cafe plan for historic site

The New York/Italian-style restaurant and bar chain, which has its head office in Worcester, is the latest big name to line up for the canalside shops scheme.

A spokesman for the chain's parent company, City Centre Restaurants, confirmed a Frankie and Benny's restaurant would open at the site.

"The lease has not yet been signed but we have every intention of opening at the Pump House," he said.

The announcement fills a key gap in the scheme, providing a food-and-drink outlet for shoppers and evening visitors.

Frankie and Benny's was created in 1995 as a fun-style Italian-American diner, with cosy booth seating, old black and white photographs and a bottle-lined bar in each restaurant. The menu includes steaks, potato skins, ribs, burgers, pizza and pasta, while a drinks-only service is also available.

Other food outlets already confirmed for the scheme are McDonald's and Pizza Hut, joining high street names including Marks and Spencer and Next.

The Pump House, also known as the Boiler House, is a landmark listed chimney which, together with Slingfield Mill, provide the key points of historic interest on the development.

The storage warehouse known as the Piano Building completes the triangle of former carpet factory buildings on the site, although that building might yet be reduced to rubble to make way for a proposed cinema.

Applications have been submitted to district planners to carry out internal alterations to the Pump House, including partial removal of the concrete first-floor, new windows and a new rear enclosure, and to install 11 uplighters to illuminate the building at night.

Ian Purvis, speaking on behalf of developers Centros Miller, said: "The final tenant line-up at Weavers Wharf will provide an exciting mix of retail and leisure unseen before in Kidderminster."

Talks are also believed to be under way with music outlet HMV and Sport Soccer, a prominent sports clothing and footwear outlet.