Pictured above: Businessman Alastair Payne outside Cannock's
bank bar & lounge
A popular Staffordshire bar will create up to 10 new jobs after
being given the green light to extend its premises as part of a
£75,000 expansion plan.
The bank bar & lounge, in Cannock, has been given permission
to use disused office space at the back of its premises to install
a function room.
The ambitious plans for the stylish venue, on Wolverhampton
Road, have been given the go-ahead by planning chiefs at Cannock
Chase Council.
The new function room will accommodate 120 people and will
include a dance floor and self-contained bar.
The approved expansion plans will see the creation of up to 10
new jobs including bar staff, doormen and catering staff.
The sophisticated venue is owned by businessman Alastair Payne
who toured as an associate of Britpop megastars Blur before opening
his own bars.
Mr Payne said he was excited about the approved expansion plans
which would bring a much needed boost to the local economy with the
creation of a number of extra jobs.
Pictured above: Inside look inside Cannock's stylish
bank bar & lounge
He said: "At the moment we haven't got a dance floor and it is
something that is often mentioned to us. The room will also be used
for private functions so people will be able to use the bank bar
& lounge to celebrate their birthdays or other special
occasions.
"The function room will be able to accommodate 120 people and
will include its own self-contained bar."
The building takes its name from the building's former use as a
branch of Lloyds TSB. The building was reopened as the bank bar
& lounge back in 2006.
Mr Payne added: "We are very ambitious here and the work will be
done to our usual specifications. We try to maintain a designer
style with quite a high class and the new space would conform to
that.
"We will be able to take on more staff in a number of different
roles. I believe up to 10 new jobs will be created as a result of
the expansion. We have got the planning permission so we can now
go-ahead with these exciting plans. I hope the new extension will
be completed early in the New Year."
The venue also provides quality food served up by its chef
Alastair Campbell and is now serving food until 8pm.
It was also the first venue in the area to bring in a covered
and heated smoking area before the ban was imposed back in
2007.