Restaurant firms are really getting a taste for Bradford, according to the leader of the Council.

The authority is confident it can attract a host of new restaurants to the city centre at an investment seminar at the Midland Hotel on Thursday.

And two firms have already confirmed plans to open restaurants in Bradford, creating 48 new jobs between them.

Councillor David Green, leader of the Labour-run Council, said the start of work on Westfield’s Broadway shopping centre had kicked off “investor momentum” and that new places to wine and dine would soon be popping up in the city centre.

He said there would be a “number of leading industry professionals” at the Taste of Bradford event.

Coun Green said: “Bradford is seeing a resurgence in the demand for new restaurants.

“Investor momentum has increased thanks to the City Centre Growth Zone and Westfield starting on site.”

The investor event, called A Taste of Bradford, is being organised by lobbying group Bradford Breakthrough alongside Bradford Council.

They are hoping to woo potential investors by giving them a sample of Bradford’s existing culinary delights, taking them on a tour of the city and introducing them to local property agents.

They will also be telling firms about the City Centre Growth Zone’s £35m business growth scheme, which offers rate rebates and grants to companies creating jobs in Bradford city centre.

Bradford Breakthough chief executive Colin Philpott was staying tight-lipped about which firms were signed up for the event, but said they were expecting about 150 people, including those with properties to market.

He said they were promoting around 35 to 40 potential restaurant sites across the city, most of which were in the streets around Westfield.

So far, two firms have revealed plans to open new restaurants in the city.

The first is the Chinese Buffet, a chain of restaurants across the North of England, which will open in Centenary Square in April.

And the second is Menston’s multi-award winning 1875 Restaurant, which plans to open a sister restaurant in Albion Court, off Kirkgate.

The restaurant, which serves fine Indian cuisine, will open its doors in September, creating eight new jobs.

Both companies were given grants through the business growth scheme.

Coun Green said: “I’m confident these two new restaurants are just the first of new places to wine and dine in the city centre.”