ONE of the UK’s most successful food chains is coming to Winchester.

Wagamama’s Japanese restaurants have been sweeping the nation and now Jewry Street will be their new home in the district.

Versant Development have applied for planning permission for a change of use of Century House – a Winchester Family Church site - and want to turn the site into a restaurant across the lower and ground floors, along with four apartments.

It is understood the restaurant would be 5,000sq feet, seating around 100 people.

Versant are still finalising details with Wagamama, but subject to planning permission expected in mid-October, they could be serving up hot noodles in the city by the start of next year.

Managing director of Versant, Frank Mountain, said: “They have been looking for years and they have to find the right site and they have found it now, although it took them a while.

“Subject to the planning application, which is in and expected to go through around mid-October, works would commence soon after that and we think they would be ready to open early in the New Year.”

Modeled on the ramen bars found in Japan and established in London in 1992, Wagamama built a reputation for fast, fresh food in a quirky environment, where starters and mains arrive in no particular order and diners share long, canteen-style benches.

Southampton, Basingstoke and Portsmouth already have their own Wagamamas, and the news will be seen as another boost for Jewry Street. This month saw the opening of high-end coffee and wine bar, Black, White, Red, part-owned by England Rugby captain, Chris Robshaw, on a site that had been empty for three years.