CENTRE North-East, the tallest building in Middlesbrough, has secured a new tenant for its ground floor.

Regent Inns has taken a 20-year lease on 1,100sq metres of space on the ground floor of the 18-storey tower block.

The building, on the corner of Albert Road and Corporation Road, has been the subject of a multi-million pound refurbishment by Marchday Holdings.

Regent Inns owns a number of successful branded chains of bars and nightclubs across the UK.

The new Regent Inns premises, its first in the North-East, will replace three tenants on the ground floor - Williams Music, The Bradford and Bingley Estate Agency and Blaises Nightclub - which are moving elsewhere in the town centre.

John Orchard, director of Marchday Holdings, said: "This is fantastic news both for Centre North East and Middlesbrough town centre.

"This is a real coup for the town and we are delighted that this very prestigious brand has chosen Middlesbrough for its first North-East venture."

He added: "We are doing our utmost to attract new businesses and jobs to Middlesbrough town centre and it is very pleasing to make this latest announcement."