Wagamama names 72 restaurants reopening on April 12 - is your local on the list?

Food chain Wagamama has unveiled the 72 branches reopening for outdoor dining on April after almost a year of Covid restrictions.

It comes as tens of thousands of Brits continue frantically booking tables at their favourite pubs and restaurants ahead of lockdown restrictions easing.

But unlike other hospitality spots, the company will leave reservations open allowing diners caught short the chance to eat out without planning months in advance - as long as they're prepared to queue.

The noodle and katsu chain was forced to shut its doors for table service in January when the Government rolled out tighter tier restrictions ahead of the third national lockdown.

But it's kept 118 of its 148 sites open for takeaway and click and collect and is now gearing up for al-fresco dining in line with the roadmap guidelines.

Bosses say they hope to reopen fully with indoor dinning when restrictions are further lifted in May.

Scroll down to see the full list. Are you excited to get back to Wagamama?

A total of 118 sites have remained open for click and collect and delivery services after the company launched its Veganuary menu (Wagamama)

Back in January, the chain vowed that half its menu will be meat-free within a year as it ploughed ahead with a new vegan menu launch.

A raft of alternative meals were added, including vegan chilli squid, sticky ribs and firecracker curry.

But some of the dishes which were not suitable for click and collect will first hit the menu properly when the restaurants are allowed to reopen on April 12.

The company has revealed the 72 stores opening for outside dining on April 12 (Tim Clarke/Daily Express)

The news comes as the restaurant and wider hospitality sector faces immense pressure from enforced closures due to crippling coronavirus restrictions.

Wagamama has proved resilient so far in the crisis, having closed only four of its restaurants permanently while scores have been shut by many of its rivals.

A spokesperson said: "We can’t wait to re-open with these new vegan versions of our most iconic dishes.

"Our outdoor dining experience offers guests the same great wagamama experience whilst complying with coronavirus safety regulations, ensuring both guest and staff safety.”

The chain has now announced the branches that will open doors on April 12 across England - as well as the Scottish sites to reopen on April 26.

Plans to reopen restaurants in Wales will come at a later date, the company added.

Have a look at the full list below.

Diners can expect queues but hope for tables eventually going spare as the restaurants do not take bookings (Tim Clarke/Daily Express)

North

Trinity Leeds

Bolton

St Peters Manchester

Cheshire Oaks

Newcastle

Manchester Spinningfields

Media City

Liverpool Speke

Liverpool

Leeds White Rose

Didsbury

Midlands

Lincoln

Rushden Lakes

New Street Birmingham

Leicester Highcross

Coventry

Sheffield

Hereford

South East

Milton Keynes

Bletchley

St Albans

Bracknell

Chichester

Horsham

Maidstone

Basingstoke

Norwich

Ashford

Whitely Fareham

Portsmouth

Crawley

Cambridge Leisure

Basildon

Peterborough

Bedford

Bury St Edmonds

Ipswich

Lakeside

Aylesbury

High Wycombe

Guildford

Staines

Stevenage

Sevenoaks

Reading

Canterbury

Colchester

Watford

Uxbridge

South West

Plymouth

Exeter

Bristol Cabot Circus

Dorchester

Swindon

Gloucester Quays

Trowbridge

Salisbury

London

Bromley

Victoria

Royal Festival Hall

Wimbledon

North Greenwich

Old Street

Westfield White City

Enfield

Hammersmith

Finchley Great North Leisure Park

Wandsworth

Ealing

Islington

Clink Street London

Putney

Scotland

Glasgow Fort

Edinburgh Fort Kinnaird

Edinburgh St andrews

Livingston