Up to £800,000 is being spent on the refurbishment and restoration of Colles Hall, a listed building, with a further £400,000 expected to be ploughed into the finishing touches which define the national company which has restaurants across the country.

Remedial work has already started on the grade II former church hall and community centre and a team of builders and plasterers are currently on site creating a large, open plan eating area with exposed kitchen. Work is on schedule with a view to opening early summer.

The building is now owned by London and Nottingham Estates and UK Property Partnership. It is on a 15-year lease to Pizza Express at a rumoured cost of £52,000 per annum.

Jolly Hall of LNE said the aim is to restore the building to its former glory, creating a big open space - Pizza Express will then insert a modern use. This will include an open kitchen space so that customers can see their meals being prepared.

He added: "This is a good addition to the retail and leisure market within Melton and will provide the town with a high quality restaurant."

Adrian Goose of UKPP said there are lots of exciting plans in the pipeline, adding: "They are all about restoring the building, enhancing it.

"Pizza Express specialises in these kinds of developments. It would be a lot cheaper to build new or take on a modern building but the company prefers to take on unusual, older premises which make wonderful restaurants."

Town centre manager Lisa Hammond hopes the opening of Pizza Express will boost evening trade in the town.

"We have got Italian restaurants which at the higher end of the market but this will benefit families and people who want a more affordable, good quality meal. We as a council, are trying to get away from the drink culture and are trying to encourage people to go out and enjoy a meal, an evening at the cinema as well as a drink. It's a nice building in a great location and the opening of Pizza Express should help evening trade in Melton."