NANDO’S fans can start to whet their appetite as the restaurant firm announces they will open next month.

The County Gazette broke the news in July after Nando’s signed a 20-year lease with Greenslade Taylor Hunt estate agents to occupy the right-hand unit next to clothes store Fat Face in North Street.

The restaurant group, famous for its Portuguese Peri Peri chicken, say they plan to officially open in the town on February 5.

The move is expected to provide a boost for the towns day and night time economy as people currently have to travel to Exeter or Bristol to sample Nando’s chicken delights.

Speculation over a move for the dining restaurant chain was re-ignited during the middle of last year after the firm posted an advert looking to fill an assistant manager role in the town.

The chain specialises in chicken dishes with varieties of marinades in a Portuguese and Mozambiquan theme.

Nando’s was formed in 1987, setting up their first restaurant in the United Kingdom in 1992 and, to date, they have 255 restaurants across the country.

Taunton is one of 25 new outlets the company are opening this year.