WORK to complete a new Wendy’s restaurant in the city centre is beginning to take shape.

The US restaurant brand is to open a new branch in the former Gap store in Western Road, Brighton, later this year.

Photos from site show that a large sign has now been placed above the door, and the recognisable Wendy’s logo is on display in the windows.

The Argus: Wendy's is to open its Brighton restaurant later this yearWendy's is to open its Brighton restaurant later this year

The fast-food chain has not yet confirmed an exact date for reopening, but an advert placed in the Western Road store reads “coming soon.”

The opening of the Brighton restaurant follows the news that bosses plan to open a further 50 sites across the country next year.

New locations planned for 2022 include the Midlands, and discussions are ongoing with franchise partners in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Wendy's said it also has eyes on moving into Europe, with launches in France, Germany and Spain.

The fast-food chain left UK shores in 1999 and recently opened five restaurants in Reading, Stratford, Oxford, Croydon and Romford.

It also opened five dark kitchens in partnership with Reef to offer deliveries on food platforms including Deliveroo and Uber Eats.

Abigail Pringle, Wendy’s chief development officer, said sales have proven so popular they intend to expand further.

She said: “We have seen incredible success that outperformed our expectations, and it’s clear to us that customers are loving our fresh, high-quality food.”

Paul Hilder, Wendy’s managing director for the UK and Canada, said: “We’re in the final stages of discussions with two traditional franchise partners who will help the brand cross the Midlands and the North of England, and we have a very strong pipeline of franchise candidates beyond that.”

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.