THE final touches are being put on the leisure side of the Regent Circus development, ready for opening early in the New Year.

The bulk of the construction is completed and all the tenants have now moved onto site to fit out their units.

Morrisons opened in October but due to construction delays the cinema and restaurants were held up several months.

However, with everything now almost done it is expected the rest of the complex will open its doors over January and February – and cinema firm Cineworld has started recruiting for workers at the site.

James Digby, of Ashfield Land, which owns Regent Circus, said: “The contractors should be finished in the next few weeks and all the tenants have now moved in so everything should be open in early 2015.

“A lot of hard work has gone in but we are very pleased to be at this stage. It will be a big draw to the town centre and may help to bring further growth to this part of Swindon.

“All but one of the units have now been taken but we are in talks with several parties so we hope to be able to make an announcement in the coming weeks.”

The restaurants so far signed up are Nandos, Ask, Coal and Prezzo while Cineworld will operate the cinema. All have started their recruitment process and will bring dozens on jobs to the town.

Matt Bayliss, general manager at Cineworld’s Regent Circus venue, and colleagues were at Village Urban Resort in Shaw Ridge Leisure Park on Saturday for a recruitment event. Mr Bayliss was looking to provide information for prospective employees, of whom 30 will be needed by the time the six-screen multiplex opens on February 6.

Much of the construction work at the cinema is complete and now the refurbishment team are inside, with a hope for all the work to be finished before Christmas.

“We want to let people see what the job really entails because a lot of people think we just sit around watching films all day, which unfortunately isn’t the case,” said My Bayliss.

“Seeing films is one of the benefits of being a Cineworld employee, but it’s one of many.

“The application process is entirely online and film fans are likely to be the type of people we want to bring in.”

Applications can be made at www.cineworld.co.uk/careers.