TRADERS selling spicy chicken, floral furnishings and trendy trainers are among the latest to take stores in Oxford’s £440m new Westgate Centre.

Nando’s restaurant, Cath Kidston clothing and Skechers shoes are three of 10 new big brands revealed by the Westgate Oxford Alliance yesterday.

Alongside them were announced jeans giants Levi’s, Acuitis opticians, clothing company Seasalt Cornwall and bath and beauty brand Molton Brown London.

Finally, to complement Westgate Oxford’s ‘increasingly stellar retail mix’, other restaurants including Shawa Lebanese Grill, Rola Wala and Benito’s Hat will be tenants.

Oxford Mail:

Picture: Westgate Oxford Alliance 

The alliance boasted that the latest slew of shops for the new centre, due to open on October 24, ‘further established the city of Oxford as the UK’s next premium fashion and food destination’.

Roz Clack, 26, who works in the city centre said: “Levi’s is good news – there used to be one around the corner which shut down so it will be good to have it back.”

With regards to Nando’s she added: “Some of the restaurants going in there sound amazing, so Nando’s is a bit of a shock – we’ve already got two of them in Oxford.”

Junaid Ansari, who runs Burrows and Hare grooming specialists in Oxford Covered Market and has been invited to open a shop in the new Westgate, said he was also slightly surprised by the Nando’s announcement.

He said: “It’s not a good representation for our business, they’ve got their own customer base, and they appeal to a big variety of people rather than our customers.

“I think the new Westgate has got to be unique: to spend that money and be a carbon copy of every other town is not good.”

However Mr Ansari also said he was ‘really excited’ about opening the new store.

There was more surprise about the Afro-Portuguese chicken chain on the Oxford Mail website.

C.Y.Metro LTD commented: “But we’ve already got a Nando’s in Oxford on George Street so are they moving or just another big chain moving in to take over?”

Bobbo81 added: “I’d rather a Wahaca than yet another Nando’s, but I suppose there’s going to be a cinema nearby, so grabbing a quick bite to eat which won’t cost the earth is still a good option.”

Brendan Hattam, general manager of the centre, said: “Once open, it will transform the area, boosting footfall to the city and creating significant benefits for the local economy.

“Westgate will provide 3,000 local job opportunities and our retail, restaurant and service partners have now started recruiting. 

“There will be a wide mix of exciting roles available that local residents can apply for, from people to work on screen projections at Curzon cinemas, to retail staff, chefs and customer service leaders.

“People can find out more about the jobs available at our recruitment fair on June 21.”

More names will be announced in the coming weeks.