SOUTHAMPTON is in retailers' top five most wanted destinations, it has emerged.

The city beats bigger rivals such as Manchester and Nottingham to come fifth on a league table of demand from retailers looking to open shops.

Firms are looking for an incredible 1.

5 million square foot of shop space in the city, according to information released by Southampton city centre management.

Portsmouth was 13th on the list, which was topped by a booming Brighton, where retailers are looking for more than 2.

1 million square foot of space.

The news follows revelations in the Daily Echo last week that an avalanche of more than 73 firms wanted to open in Southampton.

The influx could mean hundreds of new jobs and change the face of Southampton.

A shortage of the right kind of shop space is now hampering retailers keen to move here, but £1.

5 billion worth of major development planned in the city in the coming years should help alleviate the situation.

A casino company and two hotel management brands are among the mass of bars, restaurants, shops and services planning to open outlets here.

Upmarket department store House of Fraser has confirmed it is searching for a suitable site to open in Southampton in a move that alone would create hundreds of jobs.

A list from commercial property search website Focus, which companies use to search for new premises reveals that an incredible 13 restaurant firms, both small and large, are looking to open city eateries.

Names like noodle chain Wagamama, French restaurant brand Café Rouge and Portugese spicy chicken chain Nando could soon be opening branches in the city.

European-style café culture could also be on its way with ten cafes and takeaway food outlets lining up a move here.

Choice of clothes shopping will also be wider than ever if all eight fashion and shoe shops on the list, such as Reiss, Kurt Muller and Moda In Pelle, open their doors.

Gaming giant Casinos Austria International, which runs 77 casinos in 19 countries, is looking for up to 35,000 square feet of space in the area, presumably to create Southampton's fourth casino.

Hotel operators Kew Green Hotels and Golden Tulip are also looking for large sites.

Councillor Royston Smith, Cabinet member for economic development and regeneration, said: "It is encouraging that retailers want to come to Southampton.

It's going to be a vibrant place in three or four years time.

We have ten or 12 major developments that will come on stream in Southampton in a few years and that will add a significant amount of retail space as well as restaurant and café opportunities."

City centre manager Ian Rothwell said: "This is where people from the region come to shop so anyone who is anyone wants to be here."