Bella Italia, the Casual Dining Group (CDG) Italian brand, is continuing its rapid expansion plans with the opening of its largest leisure park restaurant at Hemel Hempstead.

The 5,414sq ft restaurant at Jarman Fields leisure park, adjacenet to the M1 in Hertfordshire, has undergone major refurbishment

The £1m restaurant has been called “hugely significant” by CDG’s group property director Phil Derbyshire who said: “It’s on strategy for our current out-of-town/retail and leisure park growth plans, and at 5,414sq ft, is the largest out-of-town Bella site to date.

“Its size has allowed us to innovate with the offer, providing a fully-serviced holding bar, and further develop our popular gelato operation.”

The site has revitalised interiors, a broader menu and outside dining areas.