A NEW Taco Bell restaurant could be opening in Poole town centre towards the end of March, it has emerged.

The new restaurant, at the site of a former London Menswear shop, High Street, will serve Mexican-style food on the premises and offer a takeaway service, the Echo understands.

When Taco Bell opened its latest 67-seater branch in Southampton at the end of November huge crowds turned out to line the streets.

The Poole restaurant could become the company’s 15th UK outlet, as the chain looks to expand into the south of England.

Staff, who are already being recruited for Poole are expected to initially train at Southampton’s restaurant.

While job adverts say the Poole venture will open late March, Taco Bell’s UK and Europe marketing manager, Ellen Gault, told the Echo no opening date had been officially confirmed so far.

She said: “We are really excited to, hopefully, be opening in Poole in the next couple of months. This is part of our expansion into the south of England.”

A planning application to change the use of the premises, 141 High Street, has been lodged with the Borough of Poole. However, a decision by the authority’s planning department has yet to be taken.

Meanwhile, a statement from developers accompanying the planning application concluded: “The proposal would contribute to the vitality and viability of the High Street. It will also bring significant economic and social benefits with it.”

According to the document the business will create 17.5 full time equivalent jobs for local residents.

Last year Poole traders voted by a two-thirds majority in favour of establishing a Business Improvement District (BID) to promote the town centre.The project will be funded by a 1.5 per cent levy on most businesses in the designated area, raising £330,000 for each year in the five-year BID period.

Founded in 1962 by a former US Marine, the Taco Bell chain serves over 36.8million people a week in 6,500 outlets worldwide.

The first Taco Bell restaurants in Britain were opened in London during the late 1980s.