ONE of Britain’s top restaurant chains is to open in York city centre, creating up to 40 new jobs.

Wagamama, which specialises in Japanese food, is to open in the former JJB Sports site in Goodramgate which has been empty since the company went into liquidation in 2008. Before that the store was the base for the well-known sports retailer, Newitts of York.

A spokeswoman for Wagamama said: “We would hope to open our doors in early December.”

The company has agreed to sign a 20-year lease on the 3,900 sq ft property, and the deal was secured by real estate experts at law firm Irwin Mitchell.

Since Wagamama first opened in 1992, it has established more than 100 restaurants across the world with more than 2,300 employees in the UK stores alone.

John Flathers, who heads the real estate team at Irwin Mitchell in Leeds and acted for the owner, said: “We are delighted to be able to get this unit back into use. It is in a good position and once again emphasises the adage of location, location, location.

“It will see jobs created in York and it is part of a larger expansion for the Wagamama brand, which will also see additional jobs created across the country.”