A BAR which opened last year is already set to expand with plans to have an outdoor seating areas.

The owners of the Westcliff Drinks Co in Hamlet Court Road have applied to change their licence to enable them to have tables on the pavement outside the building.

The application to Southend Council’s licensing sub-committee said the application was to “extend the licensable area to include the pavement licensed area which covers the front and the side of the building”. Customers would be able to sit outside between 9am and 9pm.

The owners also want to change a licensing restrictions which prevent customers leaving the premises with drinks in “open containers” but the outside area could be considered as part of the premises.

The bar, part of the Leigh Spirit Co a small shop-bar in Leigh Hill, opened its doors in November. The bar has themed music nights such as Canvey Islands Discs’ - where people can take or choose vinyl records to be played - and piano karaoke along with an interesting line up of drinks including a range of flavoured spirits inspired by the estuary Following the opening, the owners Katie and Dan Fairweather said they wanted to keep everything as local as possible, including working with south Essex suppliers.

If the committee grants the licence changes they could impose a number of conditions.

These could include no alcohol served outside after 9pm, drinks only served to customers who are seated at tables and a ban on smoking in the outside seating area between 12noon and 9pm.

Tables and chairs would have to be cleared away promptly at 9pm and any litter cleared away.

The committee will decide on the licence on Friday, June 16.