A global coffee shop chain could replace a Braintree bar by next year.

The landlord of The Lounge, in Market Place, is negotiating the lease with well-known coffee shop franchises such as Starbucks or Costa, the Times understands.

Charlton Higgins, 48, who has managed the bar for the last two years, has now been told that his business must move from the premises.

He said: “I am very upset about leaving as we have turned the place around.

“It didn’t have the best reputation and it was very hard work but we have done very well and it has come into its own this year.

“This year we have seen the light at the end of the tunnel.

“But next year there will be a coffee shop here.”

Landlord Ben Springer said he had been targeting the main coffee shop chains.

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.