Wagamama, the noodle bar chain, said today its plans to open a massive restaurant in Brighton have been delayed.

The group, which has taken the UK by storm since its first branch opened in 1992, said its proposed move to Argus Lofts was temporarily on hold.

Wagamama was scheduled to open in spring but marketing manager Vicki O'Neil said technical difficulties had pushed the opening back to November.

The restaurant has been lined up to occupy an open-plan basement. Internal modifications are understood to be causing the delay.

Wagamama has taken out a commercial lease on a two-storey site which covers almost 6,000sqft.

Ms O'Neil said: "There are still some issues we need to sort out with the developer before we can move in. It's frustrating because the site is ideal."

Andrew Algar, of Oakley Commercial, estate agents acting on behalf of City Lofts, said: "We were expecting Wagamama to have moved in by now but obviously they are willing to take their time.

"Everything is in place, however, and I expect progress will be made fairly soon."

Wagamama, which has restaurants in London, Manchester, Bristol and Glasgow, is the biggest name to show an interest in the swanky North Laine development.

More than 70,000 people every week visit its 23 UK outlets which copy noodle shops in Japan, where customers sit next to each other on long wooden benches.

Trendy inner city flats developer City Lofts has invested £18.5m in renovating the old Evening Argus building at North Road in Brighton.

City Lofts has transformed the former newspaper building into 61 luxury apartments of one, two and three-bedrooms and separate commercial premises.

The scheme has been designed, inside and outside, by Conran and Partners, Sir Terence Conran's architectural practice.

In December last year City Lofts market value soared to £47 million after the firm floated on the Alternative investment Market.

Conran's investment of £1 million in April last year, when it agreed to be City's Lofts' exclusive design consultant, almost tripled in value as a result.

Meanwhile Wagamama, which in Japanese means "naughty child", is expanding its overseas franchise business, which consists of three restaurants in Sydney, one in Dublin and another in Amsterdam. It is due to open in Dubai next month.

Monday April 05, 2004