A part of Colchester which already has seven drinking places could get a new wine bar.

Plans have been drawn up to convert the former antiques shop Bond and Son in North Hill into a wine bar.

The listed building was bought last month by Essex-based family business McLean Partnership, which then said the future use of the shop was undecided.

Now the company has lodged plans with Colchester Council to carry out extensive restoration work to preserve the building's historic features, including the ancient wallpaper, and open part of it as a wine bar.

The bar will be on the ground floor with a public lounge area upstairs and a private flat.

Roger McLean, of McLean Partnership, said: "We wish to renovate and restore the 15th century building to its original state and keep it as a public building and open up as much of it to the public as possible."

He said the plan would mean another business for North Hill, which some shopkeepers said was dying on its feet following the installation of a bus lane.

North Hill is home to two popular bars Times and Twisters, the Marquis of Granby pub, the Peveril Hotel and just yards away at Middleborough is theme venue Quilters and wine bar Trotter's. The Waggon and Horses in Head Street is due to change to Irish pub O'Neills.

Colchester councillors will consider the new plan in due course but some traders have already spoken out against it.

Ken Chambers, whose beauty business Cellini's and home is next door to the proposed bar, said: "I am not keen on the plan at all. There are already six licensed premises within a 50 metre radius and something like 14 within 250 metres.

"Another wine bar will further upset the balance of businesses in the area."

By Sarah Oxley

Reporter's e-mail: sarah_oxley@thisisessex.co.uk

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