Solihull Carluccio’s set to open in 2017

A giant Carluccio’s restaurant is expected to open in Solihull town centre in early 2017.

The Italian restaurant, which already has venues in Brindley Place and Grand Central, will front a new four-storey building at Mell Square shopping centre.

The new building, on the corner of High Street and Drury Lane, is now near completion. It will also include three floors of offices.

IM Properties bought the 747,000 sq ft development from Aviva for £44 million in 2013.

Alison Stanton, from Carluccio’s, said: “This is a perfect gateway location between the High Street and Mell Square, with a great level of prominence.

“The design for the space is ideal for us and we are very pleased to be working with IM Properties to secure our first restaurant in Solihull.”

In all, IM Properties own 101 retail units in Solihull town centre.

Its asset manager, Rob Hemus, said: “This corner plot, which links Mell Square to the High Street will be a key gateway into the scheme and it’s fantastic that we’ve been able to confirm Carluccio’s, who have been looking to get into Solihull for well over three years as the new occupier for this restaurant unit.

“The combination of this new restaurant space and the Grade A offices above is a perfect statement of our intent for Mell Square.

“We want to create a vibrant, contemporary mixed-use location that will help to drive Solihull’s continued prosperity.”

(Image: David Pitman).