AMBITIOUS plans for a new food hall on the seafront have been announced.

Brighton and Hove City Council said it expects 10 independent businesses to move into Shelter Hall, creating up to 100 new jobs.

The Victorian building in Kings Road Arches is currently undergoing an £11million makeover.

As part of the plans a new kiosk will be built on the upper promenade opposite the bottom of West Street – a junction used by 36,000 cars, vans and lorries a day, 30,000 pedestrians and 2,500 cyclists.

The new food hall will be two storeys tall and will be run by Sessions Market, a new ethically driven company bringing together experienced business operators from the restaurant and design worlds.

Sessions Market is backed by Imbiba and local designers We Like Today.

The Hall will include up to ten independent Brighton-based operators including restaurants, top street food vendors and up- and-coming chefs from the city, seeking an opportunity to start a food business.

All vendors will be encouraged to source ingredients from Sussex producers. There will be seating for over 250 diners.

There will also be two bars on the upper and lower levels, run by the Sessions team and serving locally brewed beer. The project is expected to create over 100 new full-time jobs and vendors will be encouraged to offer apprenticeships.

The Rotunda, on the street level, will be the new beach location for Riddle & Finns, the champagne and oyster bar which has been a prominent name in the city for nearly 14 years.

Its food philosophy combines traditional English seafood dishes with international influences. With a true emphasis on quality local ingredients and respect for provenance Riddle & Finns has become renowned for its high standard of dishes, its convivial atmosphere, and exceptional service.

The building boasts spectacular panoramic views and will be a great asset to the city’s visitors and seafood lovers.

The Shelter Hall project is part of the council’s Seafront Investment Programme, funded from government grants including a £9 million investment award from the Department for Transport’s Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund, borrowing and council money.

The scheme also includes public toilets located on the lower promenade, with a new walkway and sea wall.

Work originally began in October 2015 and was due to be completed by the end of this year.

But now it is expected it will not be finished until early next year due to “small design issues” which need resolving.