A THIRD new restaurant is to open in Bicester’s £70m town centre redevelopment.

Pizza and pasta chain Prezzo says it has spent £700,000 on its new Pioneer Square restaurant. The eaterie, which has created 20 jobs, will open on Saturday, December 14.

The restaurant will be able to seat a total of 142 people — 90 on the ground floor and a further 52 on a mezzanine level.

Prezzo follows the launch of American-themed Dean’s Diner, and Nandos, which both recently opened in Pioneer Square, alongside clothing chain Peacocks.

Prezzo’s chief executive Jonathan Kaye said: “We are delighted to be opening our new restaurant within this wonderful development.

“The restaurant will serve the highest quality food in comfortable and stylish surroundings and I believe it will be an excellent addition to the eating-out scene in Bicester.”

Cherwell District Council, which owns other empty units in the development, said it was in discussions with potential tenants.

A council spokesman said: “We currently have five empty units, some of which are under discussion with local traders looking to relocate or open new businesses altogether.

“There has also been some interest from national operators, but nothing has been concluded.”