A NEW restaurant hoping to bring the taste of Japan to Worcester has officially opened in the much-anticipated £20 million Cathedral Square.

Refurbishment of the site is now complete, and new Yo! Sushi, in High Street, opened its doors to the public today (Thursday, July 20), creating 25 jobs.

The 2,744 square foot venue, located on a first floor unit on the corner of Cathedral Square, is set over one floor, with space for 76 guests, and has modern and funky décor, following a woodland theme, with comfortable booths and stools.

The venue, which offers sushi as well as a variety of street food, uses a Japanese style 'kaiten' conveyor belt.

Foods are prepared in a theatre style kitchen in view of customers and then put on the thin conveyor belt to chosen by guests.

General manager Luke Wyatt, who describes the atmosphere as "loud, fun and all about food" said he hopes to quash the myth that sushi is all the restaurant has to offer.

"Yo! Sushi is not all about the raw fish," he said.

"We have Japanese street foods as well.

"We still have a amazing variety of sushi and variety of fish has increased.

"Our expert chef visits Japan to get new ideas - that is where we got the idea for the chicken katsu sandu, which is served on Japanese bullet trains.

"It's all made in store, fresh every day and it's all really good quality as well."

During a special preview event on Tuesday, July 18 Worcester News reporters Christian Barnett and Liz Sharpe tucked into a range of plates, including a delicious katsu prawn curry, takoyaki, lightly battered dough balls with octopus, belly bao, pork belly marinated in a sweet sticky sauce served in a bun with pickled red onion, cucumber and sesame, hoisin duck bao, hoisin duck with pickled cucumber in a fluffy bun and seared beef rolls, radish, cucumber and quick-pickled onion wrapped in seared beef with shichimi powder.

About 339 tonnes of steel have been used for the new look Cathedral Square, which is set to create more than 400 retail jobs once open.

Other names coming to the site include Starbucks, Ask, Miller & Carter, Byron Hamburgers, Cosy Club, All Bar One, Jung Fu, Fitness4Less and Wilko.

A grand opening of all the venues in Worcester Square is set to take place on Saturday, July 29.

For more information about Yo Sushi Worcester, visit yosushi.com/restaurants/worcester.