A CARIBBEAN restaurant chain is set to open another branch in Hampshire, creating up to 40 jobs.

Turtle Bay has secured a deal for a new restaurant in Winchester, filling a site formerly occupied by Toni & Guy hair salon.

It is thought the eatery could create between 25 and 40 new jobs for the city.

The business, represented by real estate adviser Savills, has agreed a 20-year lease for the ground floor and basement of Sunley House in Jewry Street, which is owned by Lewis Innovative Investments.

The letting involves a proposed extension at ground floor level, which would see the total space occupied increase to 4,200 sq ft.

The chain, known for its jerk chicken and two-for-one cocktails during its happy hours, already has a branch in Southampton.

Adam Bullas, licensed leisure director at Savills, said: “We are pleased to have supported Turtle Bay’s ongoing expansion in the UK with this new restaurant, particularly as competition for optimum trading space in Winchester is so strong.

“With prominent return frontage on the corner of Jewry Street and St George’s Street, Sunley House is ideally located to benefit from a high level of footfall and vehicular traffic.”

Turtle Bay, which is backed by private equity firm Piper, was founded by Ajith Jaya-

Wickrema, who also co-founded Las Iguanas.

The chain has 35 restaurants nationwide, including a £750,000 restaurant in Southampton’s cultural quarter which opened in 2011.

That was Turtle Bay’s second venture following a debut opening in Milton Keynes a few months earlier.

The Winchester site was formerly occupied by Toni & Guy salon, which was in the Jewry Street building for more than 20 years.

But the hair salon moved to Southgate Street in April last year, leaving the premises vacant.