BOSSES of Southend’s only four-star hotel have bought the Rio Bar and Restaurant in Leigh - and they plan to turn it into a two-tier fine dining restaurant.

Jacqui Dallimore, managing director of Roslin Beach Hotel, Thorpe Bay, spoke to the Echo about her plans for the former bar in Leigh’s Broadway.

She said: “It is our intention to produce a high quality restaurant.

“The property is currently in the ownership of The Roslin Beach Hotel and we will be applying the same business philosophy, along with a high quality layout and decor.

“In order to achieve a quality establishment on par with the Roslin Beach Hotel, we would like to incorporate the residential unit on the first floor to be part of the fine dining experience.

“This would enable the project to be financially viable and also give us the opportunity to provide the high quality establishment that we are seeking to achieve.”

She added: “There has been a bar/restaurant on this site for many years, all be it at times, not managed very well.

“However, this is an opportunity for a company proficient in producing high quality establishments of this nature and we would like to make major investment here.”

Leigh councillor Peter Wexham is pleased with the news.

He said: “The Roslin Hotel has a very good name indeed.”

Mr Wexham went on to comment on the night life in Leigh being at times to disruptive, and he feels a high-end restaurant would change the tone.

He added: “I’ve had many residents complaining to me about the noise from Rio Bar and Restaurant. “There’s so many of these places. We have a lot of these places in our town and it’s the kind of people they attract that worries residents.”

Mr Wexham commented the type of events and activities the hotel runs, such as weddings and receptions, would provide a better atmosphere too.

He said: “It would improve the status of the place and it will benefit our residents.”

He is, however, concerned about the hotel’s plans to convert the property into a two-storey restaurant as it potentially attracts large crowds - and could cause parking issues for residents.

He added: “The problem for the residents is the parking at night. Residents don’t have off-site parking so they just park along the road. “Parking has always been a problem. And parking availability will depend on how long the bars open for.”

Rio Bar and Restaurant closed suddenly in October 2016.