A MEXICAN restaurant chain is the latest group lined up to join Chester’s new dining district.

Prezzo PLC has applied to Cheshire West and Chester Council for a premises licence within the proposed glass-fronted development at the former Habitat building in Pepper Street which will house four eateries altogether.

The proposed hours for its Chimichanga outlet are 8am to midnight Monday to Saturday and 8am to 11pm on Sunday.

Spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “Chimichanga is set to open in the town as part of the new development. It’s a chain of Mexican restaurants and there are almost 30 in the UK located in all kinds of buildings. It’s more popular than ever with a menu of good authentic Mexican food.

“It’s still early stages but it represents a £500,000 investment and will create about 20 jobs. Mexican restaurants are not as popular as Italian, Indian and Chinese but the company feels people have a taste for it and they keep expanding.”

Another restaurant which has applied for a premises licence within the Pepper Street scheme is Coast to Coast – American Restaurant and Bar, which wants to open Monday to Sunday 8am until 1.30am.

It is owned by nationwide chain The Restaurant Group PLC, which also runs Chiquito, Brunning & Price and Frankie & Benny’s.

The Restaurant Bar & Grill is the third eaterie preparing to open in the dining quarter and was recently successful it getting its planning consent altered to extend opening hours until 1.30am seven days a week. The chain is owned by Individual Restaurants, which also runs Piccolino opposite the proposed development.

Concerns were raised by ward Cllr Samantha Dixon on behalf of city centre residents about opening hours creeping further into the small hours of the morning ‘in that area of town’.