A NEW cafe and bar looks set to open into a former High Street Barclays bank under fresh plans submitted to Rochford Council.

Loungers UK Limited, which runs hundreds of cafes, bars and restaurants across the country, has lodged a licensing application to open the “Lounge” in Rayleigh High Street.

The former Barclays closed on March 22 earlier this year and the building has remained empty ever since.

Proposals for a new venue have sparked excitement from residents on social media with many eager to try out the new business once it opens.

Councillor Sarah Page, chairman of Rochford District Council, is confident the move will be “absolutely amazing” for the High Street and welcomed another empty space on the High Street being filled.

She said: “They have been working very hard. Barclays had decided they were not going to continue.

“A lot of the people were quite upset with it. It is encouraging now that Barclays have moved out.

“It is good that it will be cracked open again.

“I think it will be absolutely amazing, I don’t like empty shops.”

Loungers operate 262 venues across the country under different banners, including “Lounge” cafes and bars, Cosy Club resteraunt, and Brightside “roadside diners”.

It is understood the new Rayleigh venue would operate as a cafe and bar if plans are approved.

According to the licensing application, the venue would sell alcohol at the premises between 10am and 12.30am.

Alongside taking over Barclays, Loungers would also take over the former Savers next door which closed roughly three years ago.

At the time of closing, Barclays said “just ten” customers used it as their only way of banking and the firm launched a baking hub on the High Street instead.

Notices of the licensing application have been spotted on the window of the former bank this week and will now be decided by Rochford District Council.