POPULAR burger chain Gourmet Burger Kitchen has been revealed as the latest big-name eatery to be moving into the redeveloped Market Place Shopping Centre.

The restaurant firm — often referred to as GBK — has confirmed it will be taking on one of the large units which have been created in the refurbished Victorian vaults in the ground floor of the centre.

The unit is expecting to open in June or July and joins a growing list of high-profile names to agree to set up shop in the new complex alongside chicken giant Nando’s and upmarket Italian chain Prezzo.

The Bolton News also understands that another major name is in the process of signing legal agreements to open up in the new centre.

Confirming that GBK will be opening up in Bolton, the firm’s marketing director Katie McDermott said: "We are thrilled to be opening our doors in Bolton later this year and looking forward to spreading plenty of burger joy across the town."

The popular chain was launched by three New Zealanders back in 2001 and the first restaurant was opened in Battersea.

The firm now boasts 60 eateries across the country — selling handcrafted burgers, coupled with special burger sauces made from scratch.

Diners can also enjoy an alcoholic drink with their meal and GBK has formally applied to Bolton Council for a late night license.

GBK will be taking pride of place in the new vaults complex — which forms part of the wider £19 million redevelopment of the Market Place by owners Moorgarth.

The scheme will also see a new nine-screen cinema created at the centre and visitors will be able to move between the two sites using a brand new elevator.

Bolton Council’s deputy chief executive Keith Davies has been heavily involved with the Market Place development and said the more big-names that sign up to the scheme, the better it is for Bolton.

He said: “When we see more names like GBK taking space in the vaults the more it is an endorsement in the investment strategy in place.

“This is great for residents and visitors to Bolton Town Centre and it is another example of the type of thing that people wanted to see brought in.”

He added: “We also know that there are a number of other occupiers currently going through the necessary procedures and legal agreements to take other spaces in the centre — so we are well on our way to creating a new night-time economy.”