AN £80,000 investment into doubling the size of a café bar has seen six jobs created to serve up to 50 covers.

The Bannatyne Group has opened a café bar at its Darlington health club, off Haughton Road, to offer a health-conscious menu with the majority of dishes containing less than 500 calories.

A new team of staff has been hired to run the café for members after managers noticed an increased demand for refreshments at the club.

Sue Stockdale, general manager at Bannatyne Health Club Darlington, said: “I am very pleased with the new café bar, which provides customers with a relaxing area to enjoy a snack, meal or very soon a cup of Starbucks coffee.

“The café bar has an extensive menu and had become so popular that we were always really busy and almost always full, so the new provision is welcome news for staff and customers alike.”

And Justin Musgrove, chief executive at The Bannatyne Group, added: “We’re always pleased to listen to feedback and the popularity of Darlington’s café bar meant that it needed investment so that it could meet, and exceed, the expectations of our customers.”