A MAJOR deal to secure two “high street name” restaurants at Basildon’s town new town centre cinema complex is close to completion.

Basildon Council remains tight-lipped on the identity of the restaurants, which are set to be announced “very soon”.

They are set to join Orletto Lounge, which has already opened in the East Square complex, leaving just three more units to be filled before the opening of the 10-screen Empire cinema.

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It follows the announcement that a new two-storey Wetherspoon pub would open opposite the cinema.

Deputy council leader Anthony Hedley claims there is “more interest than units available,” adding the two latest additions would be “big high street names”.

He said: “That area is fast turning into a night economy hub, with food and drink business that will support the cinema.

“I can say the restaurants we are looking at are big high street names, at not the usual fast-food culprits.

“They are all brands that will be very welcome in Basildon.”

The council handed over the keys to The Empire Cinema complex, a £25 million project which will boast the largest screen outside of London, in October of last year, with the firm now responsible for fitting the building.

Earlier this years, the council had said it was on course to open in the spring, but Mr Hedley now says “we are looking at a summer opening”.

The East Square complex is the council’s flagship scheme to breathe life into the town centre, and one that will be further boosted by Wetherspoon’s relocation to opposite the complex.

The Moon on the Square, on Market Square, will be bulldozed in September with pub giant chain bosses have confirmed they will be relocating to the site of the former Poundworld shop, which closed in August 2018.

A Basildon Council spokesperson said: “We are pleased to welcome Orleto Lounge to East Square Basildon as the first of six new restaurants to launch a new night-time economy in Basildon.

“Interior construction at Empire Cinema is well underway and we have agreed provisional terms with tenants for units one and six of the development.

“We are now progressing this with both our legal teams. Positive and active negotiations are well underway for all other units and we look forward to sharing more announcements very soon.”