A NEW kebab shop is set to open in Southampton city centre.

Doner Kebab will open a new store in the unused unit at Above Bar Street, which was last used as a pay day loan shop.

The firm, which specialises in German-style kebabs, says the restaurant will create around 25 jobs and will open until 11pm for the majority of the week.

In plans approved by Southampton City Council, the restaurant, which has sites across the UK, said: “Pay day loan shops were removed in April 2015 because of concern at a national level about the potential harm resulting from a concentration of pay day loan shops to the vitality and viability of shopping locations.

“The premises has lain vacant and been marketed since at least May 2016 without success. As such, we will ensure the long term viable sustainable economic use of the premises and restore footfall to the area.

 

“The new restaurant will also employ approximately 20-25 people at the premises which is a far greater number than would be employed if this were a pay day loan shop use.

"The fact remains that a long term vacant unit in the town centre will be returned back into long term viable use and the proposal is therefore inherently sustainable.”

On its website, the shop says it creates a healthy and nutritionally balanced approach to traditional kebabs.

It opened its first store in 1989 in Berlin

The shop will open between 11am and 11pm between Sunday and Thursday, and open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.