ALMOST 800 people applied for just 34 positions at Swindon’s first Nando’s restaurant, which opens at Regent Circus on Wednesday.

The chicken specialist is arguably the most highly-anticipated of all the new business to open at the town centre complex, with social media awash with speculation on an opening date for months.

Wednesday is the big day, and if 24 people fighting for every vacancy at the eatery is anything to go by, management can expect to be fully booked for weeks.

Much like its counterparts at the leisure development, the South African company gave its staff a dry run today, with invited guests getting the town’s first glimpse of the unique interior.

Maja Dziekan, the restaurant’s manager, who has experience dating back to 2006 with outlets in Reading and Newbury, is expecting a busy launch.

“It’s amazing, if you think about it, the public loves us so much. It makes you feel very proud that you work for a company like that,” she said.

“Whenever I had my uniform on and walked through the town, I was stopped so many times by people asking when we are opening.

“Normally, you can get the feel for how much a community is waiting for the place to be opened.

“There has been a lot of interest. I was amazed by the amount of people trying to get into the restaurant, when it’s just a practice day.

“At the moment it’s going really well. There will be things we will notice as the day will move forward, but at the moment we are quite pleased with it.”

Nando’s joins Morrisons, ASK Italian, Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Coal Grill & Bar in opening its doors, with the end finally in sight for builders at the former Swindon College site.

Prezzo and Cineworld will complete the development on Friday, with two units and a kiosk remaining empty for the time being.

However, Nando’s claims it is far from a cloned outlet, with the chain ensuring each and every one of its units is different across the country, with a variety of art pieces inside, which would not be found anywhere else.

Maja has described it as funky.

“It feels like a happy building, but once you get people in it feels and looks more happy,” she said.

Training for the lucky crop, who beat 23 rivals for each and every vacancy, began last Monday.

The restaurant will be open from 11.30am until 10.30pm from Monday to Saturday and from 11.30am until 10pm on Sundays.