ITALIAN restaurant chain Prezzo is this week confirmed as the firm planning to occupy two town centre properties.

A planning application to convert the adjacent units on Belle Vue Terrace into a restaurant was submitted in March and approved in July.

Although rumours strongly suggested soon after the application was made that Prezzo was the company responsible, the company did not reveal its involvement until this week.

Prezzo spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “ We are keen to open in Malvern. We have planning permission but still need to obtain a licence.

“There are no set opening dates, however, if everything goes ahead then the restaurant is likely to open towards the end of 2015.

“We believe that a Prezzo restaurant in Malvern would prove popular and be a great addition to the town’s dining out scene.”

The premises was formerly occupied by an insurance company and a curtain shop. The planning permission also includes the conversion of the upper floors of the building into flats.

Ask Italian opened up in premises just a couple of minutes' walk away on Belle Vue Terrace in the summer of 2008.