A NEW soft play and coffee shop will be opening in Yate Shopping Centre in the next few months.

Little Giggles Soft Play will open in the first floor unit above the Prezzo and Frankie & Benny’s at Yate Riverside on Monday, April 17.

Building works have also begun on a new coffee pod, to be located at the entrance of the Riverside complex, and the former ‘Entertainer’ unit in West Walk, which will be split into three spaces.

Planning permission has been granted for the work on both sites, which is expected to start in the next few weeks and last approximately five months.

Andrew Lowrey, Yate Shopping Centre Manager, said:  "The unit has been empty for several years and as time has gone on it has become evident that the demand for larger sized units has declined.

“Thus, we have decided to split the unit to meet current demand.

"We are currently in legals with three potential operators and are expecting completion by the middle of the year."

Pretty Nails and Furniture Store have recently opened on North Walk and a ladies

fashion operator is close to completing a lease for a unit in West Walk next to Halfords.

Mr Lowrey added: “These are exciting times for the Centre as we fill the various unit vacancies but, importantly, we are now seeing a lot of enquiries from operators wanting to set-up in Yate”.