Barking and Dagenham Council granted permission to convert the former Betfred in Rainham Road South into a restaurant.
Plans show the new eatery will be a branch of Yokoso Restaurant, which says it offers a “blend of authentic Japanese and Italian dishes”.
According to approved plans, the restaurant will open at 586 Rainham Road South.
The address was previously occupied by a branch of Betfred, but appears to have closed some time between August 2021 and September 2024, and has since been vacant.
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A planning statement submitted to the council asked for permission to open between 11.30am and 11.30pm, seven days a week. It also said the restaurant will offer takeaways and deliveries.
The statement argued that opening a restaurant at the vacant site would “contribute to the vitality of Rainham Road South”.
It also said it would create around ten new jobs “with an emphasis on hiring locally from within the borough”.
Council planning officers approved its change of use on September 12.
They said the new shopfront would “work to maintain the viability and vitality of the neighbourhood centre”.
Yokoso’s website shows it already has one restaurant in Cranbrook Road, Ilford.
It says its dishes bring “the rich culinary traditions of Japan and Italy come together in perfect harmony”.
Dining and Cooking