BASINGSTOKE town centre will soon get a new bar and lounge as a new business prepares to make its mark.

Alchemy Bar and Lounge will open at 16 Winchester Street to fill the space previously occupied by the Basingstoke Service Centre.

The business has created a Facebook page, which says the new bar will open in September-October 2023 and it will be a luxury bar for over-21s.

The business owner is seeking to convert the former retail store into a coffee house and bar.

The application says the space, now coloured dark blue, will sport a new black paint job, giving it a distinctive look.

READ MORE: Basingstoke Service Centre set to close as owners retire

An application for planning permission has been submitted to bring this transformation to life, with outdoor seating enhancing the overall experience.

A separate application for a premises license has been filed with the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. This application covers alcohol supply, recorded music, and late-night refreshment throughout the week, from 11am to 11pm.

It also seeks permission for on-premises alcohol consumption, with proposed hours of Sunday to Thursday, 10am to 11pm, and extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays, until 1am.

Basingstoke Service Centre closed in December last year after owners Jim and Sandra O'Reilly, who have been married for 45 years, decided to retire.