A PROPOSED new music, dining and drinking venue has won the go-ahead to bring 'something different' in late night entertainment in Chester-le-Street.

Work will start soon developing the new £1.4m Chicago Rock Caf in a former car showroom at the Ropery Lane end of Front Street.

Luminar Leisure, which claims to be the country's largest night-life operator with 275 venues, has overcome objections to win a licence for the premises.

The Luton-based company was expecting to counter opposition at a contested licence hearing at Durham Magistrates Court this week. But the hearing was cancelled after local objections were withdrawn.

It emerged that when notification was received of the withdrawal of those objections, the licence was granted by justices.

Luminar now plans to proceed with the new-build development once demolition of the former premises is complete.

The company was refused a licence for a similar venue in the former Palladium cinema in Claypath, Durham, earlier this year, following opposition from police and local residents.

Police objections were restricted to the location and not the concept.

Luminar director Steve Dennis pledged at the time that the company would be back to bring the Chicago Rock Caf concept to the Durham/Chester-le-Street area.

Speaking after receiving confirmation for the Chester-le-Street licence, Mr Dennis said: "All the permissions are now in place and it means we can get on with the building once the demolition is finished on site.

"We've met with the police and the council and I'm delighted to say we've been able to deal with the fears of neighbours, both residential and commercial. We've given them confirmation that we'll be a good neighbour."

Mr Dennis said he hopes the premises will be open within a year, bringing a mix of 50 full and part-time jobs.

"We're absolutely delighted to have this great site in Chester-le-Street.

"We've done our market research and it shows that many people feel disenfranchised by what is on offer at the moment."

Mr Dennis said Chicago Rock Cafes, which open from 11.30am to 1am, offer American-style entertainment with an emphasis on dining and dancing, catering for the over-25s, as the music is from the 1957-86 era.