TWO new restaurants could open on Belle Vue Terrace.

In a separate move, an unnamed developer has also shown interest in creating a mixed retail and housing development in Edith Walk, on land below the Foley Arms Hotel.

Simon Smith, Malvern Hills District Council's economic development manager, said: "This is a good indication that people are interested in investing in Great Malvern whereas a couple of years ago they weren't."

On Sunday, more than 2,000 people visited the new Priors Croft bar and restaurant, opposite Malvern Theatres, when it held an open day.

National chain Pizza Express could take over the building currently occupied by Severn Office Systems.

Geoffrey Tipping, who owns the property, and has submitted plans for a two-storey restaurant, said an upmarket restaurant would add something to Malvern.

"Pizza Express would be number one on our list, they're very interested and are the probable final occupant," he said.

Mr Tipping, who has already been given permission to create residential units on the building's first floor, will decide between the two proposals if his restaurant plans are approved.

Planning permission is recommended for approval at a meeting on Wednesday.

Mr Tipping said current commercial tenants' leases did not expire until September 2006 but any development at the site should be complete by spring 2007.

An existing Belle View Terrace business with redevelopment plans is Olivers Wine Bar.

Owner Tony Wilkinson hopes to serve bar food during lunch times and early evenings.

The bar will expand to include an adjacent premises currently occupied by Rachel's Baguettes, which Mr Wilkinson also owns.

"The bar has needed a refit for a while, and we're aiming to provide customers with better facilities," he said.

Minimal exterior alterations will occur, as planning officers refused a plan to make changes to the frontage in 2004. Mr Wilkinson said the bar would be closed for around seven weeks as a result of the work, which could begin as soon as January.

However, he feels Government proposals to ban smoking in premises that serve food could cause problems.

"If it looked like having a serious negative impact then we might have to reconsider serving food," he said.

MHDC's development control manager David Murray had been talking to a developer about plans for Edith Walk.

He is preparing ideas for how an area from Somerfield to Millers Tyres and, on the other side of the road, up the hill from Waitrose to the back of the Foley Arms Hotel might be developed, which councillors should see before Christmas.