THE family behind a popular Italian restaurant hope to extend their presence in a town with the opening of a new bar.

Italian restaurant Franco’s, in Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, has been feeding Hyndburn and beyond since 1984.

That is owned by Franco and Kim Sanna, but now their son Domenico wants to transform the former TSB bank on the same road into a craft beer bar and cafe.

It will serve craft beer, speciality draught, bottled and canned beers, ciders and wines.

Known as Tap Select, Domenico said the bar would ‘bring something different’ to Oswaldtwistle.

Mr Sanna, who would run the bar and cafe, said: “This bar would be an extension of the family’s presence in Oswaldtwistle.

“The bar is my project and stems from a trip to Brugge in Belgium.

“Their beer culture is very different to here and has a more relaxed atmosphere.

“The beer culture is changing here though and craft beer is being sold in Manchester and we’d like to see it spread out to East Lancashire.”

During the day, the bar will also serve hot and cold food, coffees and soft drinks with the option for customers to take away, which it hopes will ensure a balance between the daytime and night time economies of Oswaldtwistle.

The business will initially create two full-time and four part-time jobs, and Domenico intends to have live music on featuring local acoustic acts.

The bar will also have several retro games consoles and arcade cabinets on free-play for customers.

The bar would open on Sunday to Thursday between noon and 11pm and on Friday to Saturday between noon and midnight.

The bank has been empty for about two years since it closed.

Plans submitted to Hyndburn Council also include creating two studio apartments above the proposed bar.

Mr Sanna said he hopes to secure planning permission and then start work on the new bar ‘as soon as possible’.

He said: “From a personal point of view, I’m sick of going to places like Manchester for something a bit different such as craft beer.

“It’s important to myself and my family that Oswaldtwistle is doing well.

“I feel the town is on the up and I hope this new bar would add and complement to what we’ve already got in the town.

“The town does have the Vault which is a gin bar but there’s nothing like a craft beer bar.

“As well as attracting locals, I also hope people from further afield will come to visit the bar.

“I believe this bar would be a boost to the town and bring back to use an empty building and hopefully it will be a success.”