A LEASE deal for a major bar chain to move into Warrington town centre’s £142.5 million Time Square development has been approved.

Revolution is set to move into two units totalling 7,580sq ft in the site’s biggest letting outside of anchor tenant Cineworld.

The bar and restaurant will occupy the currently vacant space bordering Academy Way, near to Warrington Borough Council’s new offices and the Time Square Car Park.

The council’s cabinet approved the lease during its meeting on Tuesday.

Council leader Cllr Russ Bowden said members will recall the decision made under this administration to proceed with Time Square as a ‘major regeneration project’ in the town.

He said Time Square is ‘rapidly becoming the heartbeat’ of the town centre, and that he hopes it has a positive impact on the surrounding areas like Bridge Street.

Cllr Tony Higgins, cabinet member for leisure and community, also shared his views.

He said it took ‘blood, sweat and vision’ to deliver the scheme.

“I like to make comparisons to our neighbours,” he added.

“That’s usually a good benchmark to see what others are doing, in relation to what we are doing.

“I’m not going to name them, I have done in the past, but it’s rather unfair to do that, but when you do look at our neighbouring towns, I can tell you now they haven’t got a town centre like we’ve got, they haven’t got a market like we’ve got, not at all, and they haven’t got people queuing up wanting to come into their towns to open new venues and to invest, but we have.”

Cllr Higgins also said Warrington has a ‘booming’ town centre.