A Whitehaven restaurant owner wants to expand his business, with plans to open a

cocktail bar next door.

Tom Green, who opened Number 11 Market Place last year, wants to offer customers a place to enjoy drinks before their meal.

He has lodged plans with Copeland Council to convert the former Vivvy Lees printing and design shop at 12 Market Place into a bar.

The restaurateur said: “The plan is to be an extension for Number 11 to do cocktails and be used as a nice place to drink before and after meals, and as a bar for the public.

“We are predominately a food place at the moment. We often get people who want to have a drink before their meal but we are so busy we have got nowhere to seat them.”

Mr Green said he hopes the new venue will be open before Christmas but added that there was still work to do. He estimates the bar will seat around 30 people and also hopes the expansion will create additional jobs.

“I think nightlife is getting much better in Whitehaven,” he said. “We are hoping to add something small to what’s already there.

“I’m looking forward to getting open and bringing a nice cocktail bar to the area.”

Number 11’s new cocktail bar would be one of a number of night-time venues to open its doors in the town, with the reopening of The Strand on New Lowther Street, and the launch of a new wine and cocktail bar, NJ’s in the former Coral Bookmakers on King Street.

Other establishments which have opened in the town include the Corner Bar on Tangier Street and the Harbour Master by the marina. Castle Knights has also had a makeover and the former Roc Bar has been rebranded as Club 135.

Number 11 Market Place was launched in November last year, and offers a range of dishes including homemade burgers, burritos and tacos.