THE long-awaited Cradle Bridge development is finally starting to show signs of life with two businesses opening up this week.

After years of preparation work and several setbacks, Greggs has opened its doors to the public in the new Trowbridge development, across the bridge from St Stephen’s Place, and Toby Carvery's official launch is just around the corner.

The two businesses will later be joined by Subway, Domino’s Pizza, Firezza and an M&S Foodhall.

Andrew Wiles, 36, manager of Toby Carvery, said: “We’re in a brilliant position here on County Way and the nearest Toby Carvery is in Swindon, so we expect to be very busy.

“Staff have had two weeks of training and are all really excited to get going. We’ve got a real mixture of backgrounds and ages and they’ve all got great personalities, which is the most important thing.

“Our speciality here will be the same as every other Toby Carvery – our trademark roast dinners.

“It’s proper food that the whole family can enjoy from nieces and nephews to granddads and grandmas.”

The restaurant, which has employed 45 new members of staff, has chosen Stepping Stones as the local charity it would like to support and will be holding a number of fundraising events to boost its funds throughout the year.

Tonight (Tuesday) the restaurant is having a ‘trial run’ event with friends and family of staff invited along to enjoy some half price food, with the official opening taking place on Thursday.

Greggs, on the other side of the development, opened to the public today. The bakery’s branch in The Shires will remain open but the branch in Castle Place will shut, with all employees transferring to the Cradle Bridge branch.

Lisa Millard, shop manager at Greggs, said: “I’m very proud to be managing this new shop and the shop team are looking forward to hearing what the local community think.”

The Wiltshire Times is waiting to hear back from the other businesses when they expect to open.