A HOST of brands including Nando's, Premier Inn and The Light Cinema are on their way to Banbury as part of the Castle Quay extension.

Long-awaited plans for the huge 'CQ2' project in the heart of Banbury have finally been submitted to Cherwell District Council for approval.
The development will boast a multiplex cinema with more than 1,300 seats, a 117-bedroom canalside hotel and a dynamic mix of shops and restaurants.

Other brands due to move in to the new units once they are built include Mexican grill Chiquito, Italian chain Zizzi and a branch of cut-price food retailer Lidl.

Cameron Murray of owners Aberdeen Asset Management said: "We’ve been working on this complex project for a number of years and are delighted that we can now start putting names to the food store, cinema, hotel and restaurants units. 

"These are well known names and new entrants to the town which will offer a huge amount of variety for existing and new visitors to Banbury. 

"With over £35m being invested into this project, we believe it will have a positive benefit on the whole town centre, as well as Castle Quay Shopping Centre."

The new cinema will be an eight-screen multiplex showing blockbusters, independent and international films as well as live arts and sport broadcasts.

Keith Pulling, chief executive of The Light, said: "The Light chose Banbury as a developing town, currently without a modern cinema offering. 

"It will be a premium cinema experience with a commitment to local community engagement, showing a broad range of films and events to appeal to all age groups."

All rooms at the Premier Inn hotel will overlook the canal and restaurants and cafes will also offer alfresco dining by the water.

Shoppers will also benefit from extended opening hours, with the centre open late into the evening, and an extra 240 car parking spaces are also planned.

Cherwell leader Barry Wood said: "This project has been a long time coming for Banbury and will breathe new life into the town centre. 

"For years Banbury has been calling for a multi-screen cinema and since the closure of Somerfield in 2007 has been without a town centre supermarket. 

"This development will address both of those shortages while the addition of new restaurants and a hotel will create a thriving town centre for visitors to enjoy during the day as well as long into the evening."

If plans are approved over the summer developers could be onsite as early as autumn 2017, with the majority of CQ2 open for Christmas 2018.