Pan Asian franchise restaurant chain Cosmo is about to launch what it says is the UK's largest restaurant.

With seating for 800 people, Cosmo Croydon is due to open in November and will feature 10 live cooking stations and serve more than 300 dishes. The food on offer will principally comprise authentic recipes from nine Asian countries - China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Singapore, Vietnam and India - although, unlike the other restaurants in the chain, a selection of European dishes will be available. Cosmo, whose philosophy is to "cook fresh, eat fresh; maximise our menu; entertain as we cook; give value for money; and make our customers feel valued", opened its first restaurant in Eastbourne in 2003.

In addition to Eastbourne, the new Croydon operation will join Cosmo sites in Bristol, Cardiff, Chatham, Coventry, Hastings, Romford, Swindon, Tunbridge Wells and Wolverhampton. Another new restaurant is planned for Swansea and scheduled to open soon.