Potential occupiers are queuing up to take the place of a bar and restaurant which has pulled out of the Oxford Castle development.

Jean-Pierre Morilleau, general manager of the Castle site said there had been several expressions of interest from agents acting clients interest in the site vacated by the Ha! Ha! Bar and Canteen.

The operator was the first to leave the successful development since it opened for business three years ago.

Mr Morilleau said: “We are trying to find an operator and we have had a lot of interest already as it is a prime location in the city centre.”

While the Castle development is dominated by national chains, Mr Morilleau added that he was dismissing any applications from local businesses wanting to become involved with the successful site.

“We will look at all options as long as they are commercially viable,” he added.

Mr Morilleau said the next plan for the Castle was to start a regular market, a plan which was originally schemed into the Castle blueprint but which has so far failed to materialise.

He added: “We have had to move slowly but now we ae ready to get the market up and running and we are trying to find the right traders to come in.

“We don’t want to compete with other markets such as Gloucester Green and we will run on different days with food and antiques.”

Mr Morilleau said the market should be ready to open by March.

The Ha! Ha!Bar and Canteen chain was part of the Laurel Pub Company which went into administration last May.

Spokesman Maureen Hesselman said it was taken over by the Bay Restaurant Group but it the Oxord site’s lease was not assigned to the new company and it has been forced to close.

The La Tasca tapas chain is also owned by the Bay Restaurant group but will remain open at the Castle as the lease was successfully transferred.