Former bank moves closer to becoming cocktail bar

If the applicant is successful, the cocktail bar will open on the site of the former Lloyds Bank in Towcester

A former high street bank could be turned into a cocktail bar after a council granted an alcohol licence to the premises.

The applicant hopes to open The Vault Cocktail Lounge in Towcester, Northamptonshire, at the site of the former Lloyds Bank on Watling Street East.

West Northamptonshire Council approved the application to serve alcohol every day from 11:00 to 00:00, but further planning and licensing permissions are still needed for the venue to open.

The committee heard objections, but was told the applicant runs a pub in the town with "no issues with noise and [he] makes sure everything is run correctly".

A change of use application to get planning permission to convert the building into a bar and make some small physical changes is still pending.

The application currently has 10 letters of objection from members of the public, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The applicant runs The Watling Street Village pub in the town centre

The licencing committee heard from a developer working on nearby homes, and a local resident who both objected to the plans over noise and possible disruption from the venue.

As well as selling alcohol, the cocktail bar will be allowed to play recorded music indoors.

An agent speaking on behalf of the applicant, Anthony Walker, said: "He's going into this trying to build a business, but it's going to be a premium cocktail bar.

"It's going to be nicer people with a more disposable income that want to just sit and chat and have a nice drink."

The premises licence was granted on Thursday but a date for a committee meeting to decide on the planning application has not yet been set.