No Chinese restaurant for Workington

Last updated 13:45, Sunday, 18 May 2008

HOPES to bring a Chinese restaurant to Workington are off the menu after the cost of fitting it out proved too expensive.

The Mandalay restaurant had intended to move into vacant premises on the ground floor of the town centre’s Debenhams building, which has stood empty for two years.

However, town centre development manager David Fletcher confirmed at a meeting last week that the businesses owner was re-thinking the idea.

Mr Fletcher insisted the decision had nothing to do with the cost of rents in the town centre as the owner had benefited from a rent-free period when he signed a tenancy agreement.

It was down to the financial implications for refurbishment of the restaurant.

Mr Fletcher said: “I think the slow boat from China has sunk. The fit-out costs had gone too high.”

He revealed that other businesses had expressed an interest in taking over the lease of the property and the matter was now in the hands of lawyers.

He added: “At present two or three businesses are in the frame to come in,”