An application for an alcohol licence for a planned new restaurant in the centre of Kenilworth has been submitted to the district council.

Loungers UK Ltd has put forward the application for the former Shakespeare's Hospice Shop as it looks to turn the vacant unit into a "café/bar/restaurant".

The nationwide chain - which already has over 200 branches - has already asked for planning permission from Warwick District Council (WDC) for works at the Abbey End site.

If approved, the licence application would allow alcohol to be served on site from 10am to midnight, seven days per week.

It would also allow the venue to serve alcohol through the night on New Year's Eve until "the start of permitted hours on New Year's Day".

Locals have until November 14 to have their say on the application.

The separate planning application for the new eatery is also yet to be considered, but could see the building extended to fill the gap between the existing shopfront and the walkway to Abbey End car park.

Planning documents say up to 30 jobs would be created through the restaurant, bringing back to the life the empty unit which has been vacant since early 2020 when the charity shop closed.

"The proposed scheme seeks to extend the existing building and make internal and external alterations which will enable the building to be used as a café/bar/restaurant," the planning application said.

"This extension will generate an additional 81 sq.m of floor space at ground floor but more importantly it will provide a new continuous 'active' frontage to this part of Abbey End which currently does not exist," it added.

"This new frontage will not only significantly improve the appearance of the existing building but it will also significantly enhance its setting."

A drawing of the proposed extension (image via planning application)

The application refers to the site as 'Kenilworth Lounge'.

The company opened its 200th Lounge branch in Buckingham in September, offering food and drink all day.

Lounge said at the time it places an "emphasis on community" and a new branch normally sees a £1 million investment in the high street.

The company has 238 sites across the three brands and says it wants to open at least 600 Lounges across the UK.

The unit was recently used as a pop-up shop and raised £4,500 for a 16-month-old boy who has lost three limbs.

See the full licence application here.