ITALIAN restaurant chain Joe Rigatoni's will unveil a new-look venue in the region next week.

The 175-seat restaurant, in Church Street, Hartlepool, was the first Joe Rigatoni's restaurant, openning 11 years ago.

It has undergone a £200,000 refurbishment to include an open-plan kitchen so diners can see their food being prepared, an improved bar area and more upstairs dining.

The revamp is the latest in a series of investments by the Middlesbrough-based company in the past few months.

Owner Paolo Arceri began expanding the business at the end of August, with its first franchise at Stockton's waterfront and a recent acquisition in Yarm high street.

The company, which also has restaurants in Darlington and Middlesbrough, has created more than 40 jobs in the past two months, including ten at the Hartlepool restaurant, bringing its total workforce to 160.

Mr Arceri said: "Joe Rigatoni's has reached the point where its name is established and well-regarded enough to be an attractive business option for franchisees. I still have strong ambitions to expand the business on a non-franchise basis too."

The Hartlepool restaurant will re-open on Monday, October 17, followed early next month by the opening of the company's Yarm site, which it acquired from brothers Eugene and Tom McCoy last month.