PLANS to transform an empty building into a wine bar and restaurant in Darlington's Market Square have been welcomed by town centre officials.

Les Mooney, owner of Caf Gulp in Priestgate, Darlington, is hoping to create a thriving restaurant, called the Circus Bar, in the former Caf Caffae premises which have been closed for almost a year.

Mr Mooney said he hoped to create a sophisticated restaurant, where the upstairs of a fully-licensed premises would be a wine bar, with a brasserie downstairs.

The area outside would also provide about 40 seats, to create a continental-style pavement caf with waitress service under a big top canopy.

Louise Payne, town centre manager, said the new business would provide a much- needed lease of life to that corner of the Market Square.

"This is great news," she said. "A new restaurant will bring more people to the area."

Mr Mooney said he also hoped the bar would stop people from the town looking elsewhere for entertainment.

He said: "We want to create something a bit more trendy, to attract the kinds of people who at the moment probably go to Durham, Newcastle or Yarm.

"It's about creating something a bit different that we don't have at the moment in the town. It will be something a bit classier really, with great service and a good atmosphere.

"Like a circus, I want people to come for the atmosphere as much as the food. We are looking at providing entertainment, buskers and live bands."

The success of Caf Gulp since it opened in 2000 has inspired Mr Mooney to open the wine bar.

"I still want to repeat the Caf Gulp idea somewhere else, but we also wanted to do the brasserie and bar, because it's closer to home and I think the town is ready for it.

"People said Caf Gulp wouldn't work, but it has and it's won awards and gone from strength to strength. I think this is less of a risk, and with the right team it will work."

Mr Mooney plans to open the Circus Bar at the end of May and shop fitters are working on the premises, formerly a wine merchants.