MORE than 70 jobs are set to be created at a £1.5 million restaurant which will open at Derby's Riverlights development.

Jimmy's World Grill and Bar has confirmed it will open the 400-seater restaurant on February 8.

It is understood that Jimmy's has taken two out of five available ground-floor units at Riverlights in which to create the restaurant, which will be the firm's second UK location.

The company already has an outlet in Luton and has plans to open a third at the London O2 Arena.

In total, it plans to open eight restaurants within the next three months.

Jimmy's offers an all you can eat, multi-cuisine concept, selling a range of international dishes, including Italian, Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese and Indian food.

Among its 100 dishes are pizza, pasta, stir fry sushi and grilled chicken – with customers given the option of choosing dishes on display or having ingredients cooked fresh by its team of 15 chefs in front of them at "live stations".

The firm has already started a recruitment drive for a range of positions, including waiting staff, chefs and management.

Marketing manager Amandeep Uppal said "We are extremely excited to become part of Derby's lively community.

"Jimmy's is about offering our customers choice and quality delivered in a fun and exciting way.

"Each visit is a new experience and there is no better way to sample a wonderful variety of cuisines from all around the world.

"We pride ourselves on the quality and freshness of our food as well as making sure every customer leaves feeling satisfied in every way."

Riverlights, which cost £100 million to build, is now home to a number of major names including hotel chains Holiday Inn and Hampton by Hilton, as well as Genting Club casinos.

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, which promotes Derby as a place to invest, said: "I think the fact that Jimmy's has chosen Derby as its second location for a restaurant does speak volumes for the city.

"Getting in quality names is part of the vision to bring the Riverside area to life – making Derby a city that looks towards the river rather than away from it.

"Companies like Jimmy's are buying into that vision and will help make this area a vibrant part of the city."

As part of its opening, from February 8 to 11, the restaurant will be donating £1 from every meal to a charity of the diner's choice.

To dine on its opening night, e-mail Derby@jimmys worldgrill.co.uk. To apply for a job at the restaurant, e-mail a CV to jobs@jimmysworld grill.co.uk.