A new Pizza Express is coming to Leeds and this is where it will be

The Italian restaurant chain has taken a unit on Merrion Way, close to the First Direct Arena.

The Merrion Centre in Leeds has changed its name and this is whyIt will open to the public on March 19 and feature a signature 'open kitchen'.

The chain already has a large presence in Leeds city centre, with sites at Albion Place, Crown Street, Park Square and Leeds Dock.

The Merrion Centre has enjoyed a strong start to 2019 despite a tough trading environment for the retail sector. Seven new businesses have opened in the mall in the past five months, including tea house Chatime, New York-style pizzeria Union Square and Japanese restaurant Blue Sakura.

Plans have recently been submitted to build a huge new 17-storey office and retail extension to the centre, which would see the old Odeon cinema, which has been abandoned since the 1970s, demolished. The proposals are awaiting approval.