Japanese ramen restaurant Muga to open in West End

A new Japanese ramen noodle restaurant is to launch its first site in London's West End.

Muga is to replace English restaurant The West End Kitchen, when it opens at 5 Panton Street.

Muga plans a new open dining style Japanese theme dining bar and restaurant, in the ground floor and basement 1,657 sq ft property. It has taken an assignment of a 20-year lease which expires in 2017.

The team behind Muga, which includes a director at Mayfair Japanese restaurant Nagomi, would like to open further branches in areas like Soho, Shoreditch, Chelsea, Camden and the City, according to Restaurant Property, which brokered the deal.

Sally French who advised on the deal acting for The West End Kitchen said: "Muga will be a great addition to London's diverse Asian food offering. Tonkotsu, Bone Daddies and most recently Ippudo have proved authentic ramen noodles dishes are here to stay. This is a great location which is set to benefit from the massive investment of the Crown Estate which has been regenerating this swathe of London."