PROPOSALS to convert a two-storey building in the centre of Darwen into a wine bar and bistro with a gin and tonic twist have been given the green light.

Borough planners approved local businessman Andrew Shorrock’s £100,000-plus scheme on Church Bank Street behind the Bridgewater pub, on Friday.

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It has been hailed as a valuable addition to the town’s ‘vibrant’ nightlife by Sunnyhurst ward councillor Dave Smith.

Currently the detached two-storey building located just off Bridge Street houses a ground floor office suite and a first floor one bed apartment.

Mr Shorrocks, who runs Shorrocks Developments, has been involved in the conversion and fit out of the Essence cocktail bar and Mediterranean restaurant at the former White Lion pub on The Green which is set to open next week.

The 41-year-old Darwen resident said: “I am delighted.

“I am looking at developing a wine bar and bistro aimed at a slightly older group of people than many of the customers who use some of the pubs in Darwen.

“It is aimed at over-21s and possibly people more my own age.

“I want them to find this venue somewhere where they can feel welcome and at home.

“One of the things I am looking at is doing a range of gins so there is a real gin and tonic twist to the bar.

“In total, I will have spent more than £100,000 buying the premises and fitting out the establishment.

“Darwen has a vibrant nightlife at the moment and I want to offer something a little bit different to it.

“We might offer some music, possibly an acoustic guitar, possibly a saxophone, possibly some folk music but nothing too loud.

“I’m just finishing the fit out at Essence which looks great.

“Hopefully the two new bars will complement each other.”

Cllr Smith said: “I am pleased.

“This is good news and it will fit well with Essence at the old White Lion which is due to open shortly.

“It will provide a bit of a new twist to Darwen,a bit more wine bar bistro than the pubs and restaurants we already have.

“It will be a good addition to the vibrant and exciting nightlife in the the town adding a slightly different flavour to it..

“I shall be popping in to check it out when it opens.”

The proposal is to convert the buildingstone-built into a single drinking establishment and Bistro cafe over the two floors with minor works on the external façade to enhance the buildings’s historic character and improve the street frontage.