Cote Brasserie is latest chain at Regent Court

The French-inspired Cote Brasserie has agreed to take the unit occupied by clothing store Austin Reed which is closing down, and hopes to feature in and outdoor dining.

The latest deal comes as Regent Court celebrates a large rise in activity, attracting 1.9 million visitors during 2014, a 22 per cent increase compared to the previous year.

More than 150 jobs have also been created since owners NewRiver Retail were granted permission to transform the area from mainly retail into a new restaurant quarter in February 2014.

Bill Wareing, of Leamington-based commercial property agents Wareing & Company, said: “It is a real coup for Regent Court to have attracted another major restaurant brand which will only help to strengthen Leamington’s overall food offering.

“Côte is renowned for its French bistro inspired food and relaxed atmosphere and with only one other restaurant located in the Midlands, we are confident it will be a huge draw for customers and thereby bring business to the town.

“We are pleased to see that the restaurant quarter is quickly becoming a hotspot for activity

cementing a positive outlook for the future development and growth of the town.

“It totally vindicates New River’s approach of developing Regent Court as a food and restaurant quarter and we have very positive reports on how the existing units are trading.”

Cllr Jerry Weber has raised concerns on behalf of residents who live in the apartments at Regent Court about late night noise coming from the food quarter.

On Tuesday he will be objecting to Cote’s application to serve food to outdoor tables until 9.30pm.

He said: “Overall residents have accepted that Regent Court will now be a food quarter but they want a good balance of quality restaurants as opposed to rowdy bars.”