A POPULAR bar in Boscombe is planning to expand its offering by creating a new bistro restaurant.

Chaplin’s in Christchurch Road is proposing to extend into a vacant adjoining shop unit – the former Coastal Credit Union, which closed its doors last summer after going into administration.

Chaplin’s owner Harry Seccombe said he wanted to “add to the experience” of the venue by creating a dedicated, a la carte restaurant.

He even has ambitions of gaining a coveted AA rosette for the restaurant, which he plans to open this summer if Bournemouth council grants permission for the change of use.

“We’re planning to offer a really good, bespoke dining offer,” he said.

“It’s a Victorian building so the new restaurant will feature old-fashioned oil lamps, Victorian tiled floor and lovely arched doorways with antique doors.

“It will be nice, cosy and modern but retro.”

He continued: “We’re currently trying to run a restaurant in a bar environment, which is not ideal. I want to develop an a la carte, bistro restaurant with better kitchen facilities where we can really shout about the food.”

Harry said the new restaurant’s menu offering would still include some pub-style food, but would venture into more fine dining options such as ‘Dorset snails with garlic’.

“I want to give people a proper dining experience,” Harry said.

“Then they can enjoy some live music, poetry or comedy in the bar area. Having a dedicated restaurant will help put us on the map as a destination venue. We’re very unique in the breadth of what we offer.

“Boscombe has a lot of potential, and they’re looking to have more dedicated eateries in the town.”

The planning application for the new restaurant is currently under consideration by the council.

Richard Brothers, of Rib Architecture, says in the application: “The proposals bring a currently empty unused premises back into trading and, in so doing, invigorate the life and viability of this section of Boscombe high street.

“This is further enhanced by the recognised quality and consequent popularity of the existing establishment.”