A NEW bar which has already opened in Bournemouth town centre is seeking planning permission for alterations.

Tates Liquor & Plates opened in the former Rancho Steak House in 17 Poole Hill on Saturday, June 30, and now wants permission for internal alterations to the Grade II listed Victorian building, a former hotel.

Applicant Bournemouth Pub Company Ltd also wants to create a new outdoor seating area and gain permission for its front advertisements.

A planning statement prepared by Pure Town Planning says the site already has the correct usage permission of bar/restaurant, as per its previous occupier.

The statement says: “The proposed development seeks to carry out alterations to facilitate a conversion of the existing premises which is currently a vacant restaurant to Tates Bar and Kitchen.

“The proposed development will positively respect the important character of the building, materially improving the appearance of the building as a whole whilst retaining the use of the building as a bar and kitchen, thus contributing to the area’s economy and vitality.”

The advertisements will be “sensitively designed”, the firm claims, and will “draw upon the site’s historic character as a hotel”. “Furthermore, the scheme proposes to create an outdoor seating and smoking area in the yard to the rear, revitalising this underused space.”

The pub company says the interior of the building “has fallen into disrepair”, the rear is “very run down”, and has dubbed the orange awning put up by the previous occupier “unsightly”.

The bar advertises itself as a cocktail bar serving restaurant food including burgers, wings and charcuterie.

The application notes that the nearby DYMK bar has a rear garden and is licensed until 3am.