A MEXICAN restaurant, global buffet company and dessert specialist are among the five new venues coming to a long-awaited leisure park.

Colchester’s £70 million Northern Gateway development is being built on the fringe of the city at junction 28 of the A12.

American fast-food franchise Wendy’s became the first business to open its doors at the site last month, soon followed by Greggs.

And now Turnstone Estates has announced the signing of five new restaurants to the line-up of operators at the ten acre leisure park, which is under construction.

Gazette: Coming soon - Cineworld is expected to open at Colchester's Northern GatewayComing soon - Cineworld is expected to open at Colchester's Northern Gateway (Image: Turnstone Estates)

Agreement for leases have been signed with Mexican restaurant El Guaca, dessert seller Kaspa’s and buffet company Nines.

Slim Chickens and Italian food specialist Taste of Italy have also been added to the mouthwatering line-up.

The lettings will complement the park’s flagship attractions: Cineworld’s 12 screen cinema, Hollywood Bowl’s 20 lane bowling alley and Puttstars’ adventure golf centre.

A 90-bed Travelodge hotel is also nearing completion while works to construct Kervan Kitchen are underway.

Gazette: State of the art - the leisure park is expected to open within the coming monthsState of the art - the leisure park is expected to open within the coming months (Image: Turnstone Estates)

There are now just two remaining restaurant units available.

Mark Cory, deputy leader of Colchester Council, said the announcement of the five new operators is “great news for Colchester”.

“It is further evidence of the attraction our city holds as a great place to invest, visit, live and work,” he said.

“The signing of five new restaurants to the line-up of operators is a major milestone in the delivery of a vibrant and attractive leisure destination at Northern Gateway.

Gazette: Hungry - diners arrived early for the opening of Wendy'sHungry - diners arrived early for the opening of Wendy's (Image: Newsquest)

“We have been clear from the start that this new leisure park has no retail units and brings new businesses that are additional to the offer in our city.

“These new restaurants and leisure units add to the attraction of Colchester, bringing people from all over Essex, Suffolk and beyond.”

A question mark has remained over the future of financially troubled Cineworld’s new venue after it entered bankruptcy in September last year.

Colchester Council previously said it has a contingency plan in place which would see other providers swoop in if Cineworld were to go under.