A successful bar and canteen chain hopes to form the final piece of the jigsaw in the ambitious £10 million project to convert the old Colchester Post Office into a multiplex cinema.

The old Post Office building in Head Street, Colchester, is already set to become home to the new Odeon eight screen multiplex cinema and Bass Leisure Retail's Edwards Bar, which have both signed a 25 year lease on two units.

And now a planning application has been received for the remaining 6,000sq ft unit from Ha Ha Bar & Canteen.

There are already 11 Ha Ha Bar & Canteens across the country from Cardiff to Bristol and there are plans to open another seven this year.

Brand manager Nelly Benstead, said: "We are trying to identify good regional provincial towns with a need for the kind of good strong food we do.

"We try to appeal to the older more discerning customer. There is already a lot out there for the younger customer which is all drink orientated.

"There is nothing like us in Colchester and there is plenty of our target customer in that area."

Planning permission and a licence still have to be obtained.

The project is still at a very early stage, with planning permission and a licence to be obtained, but Miss Benstead said their builders were ready to move fairly swiftly if the project is given the go-ahead.

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