Excitement mounted when a multi-million pound leisure development confirmed two more high-profile eateries had signed up. Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Miller & Carter Steakhouse are the latest additions to the anticipated Riverside North complex and will complement the town’s excellent existing independent restaurants.
They will join the likes of Zizzi and Wagamama alongside the seven-screen Vue cinema. Local business owners were ebullient about the new arrivals: “For a town to become busier, it’s got to have new people coming in and that’s what these new businesses will do,” said Libby Lionetti of La Piazza. “We’re going to have new businesses blending with the old and that should inspire us who are here to do better. It’s rejuvenated an area which has not been invested in for a long time.” Jess Wolton of Herd said, “We expect the new development to briefly have a detrimental impact on small businesses. People will go and try the new restaurants out of curiosity, but we know we have a great product, so customers will come back.”
Bedford Borough Council confirmed the development is on track to meet this month’s deadline. Once complete, Riverside North will boast a tree-lined public square and restaurants over-looking the beautiful River Great Ouse, a 100 bed Premier Inn hotel and seven screen cinema.
