A NATIONAL bar chain will bring a taste of Miami and New York to the former HMV building after having its premises licence approved.

Southend Council's licensing committee has given the go ahead for Revolution Bars to open its 54th branch in Queens Road, Southend.

The national chain, which with offshoot branch Revolucion de Cuba has more than 60 bars in major UK cities, will install a retractable roof to the first floor of the long-empty building - which director of property Godfrey Russell said was in the style of New York and Miami bars.

He said: "By removing the first floor roof, it allows smoking at the far end of the first floor. You see a lot of this in Miami and New York where they have lots of tight space."

Julian Ware-Lane, councillor for Milton ward has previously welcomed the new bar and the 50 jobs it will create.

Mr Russell added the company decided to move into Southend because of its vibrant town centre and the investment successive council administrations have put in.

He said: "I've seen the rise and fall of Southend over the years with Yates's and some bigger brands in the late nineties and early 2000s, and it looks like a lot of investment has been going in, there's a feeling the place has a core, a heart again."

The planning application to convert the use of the building from a shop to a bar is still being considered by the council. The company plans to spend more than £1million on refurbishing the property.

The bar will be open between 11am and midnight Sundays to Wednesdays and 11am to 2am Thursdays to Saturdays.