A PLUSH new Latin American bar and restaurant is set to open in the former Bar Rio in Leigh after a £350,000 refurbishment.

The Regis Group, which owns the Roslin Beach Hotel in Thorpe Bay and the Chameleon and Box nightclubs along with Dick de Vignes in Southend, have been given a licence for Frank’s at 109 to 111 Leigh Broadway.

The business, which previously operated as Bar Rio on the ground and first floors, has been closed for five years.

Now Regis, which owns the freehold, is set to run the new bar and restaurant on the ground floor only.

The venue has a new £40,000 kitchen and will employ 25 staff primarily serving meals.

During the day there will be an informal menu with teas, coffees, wine, pastries and sandwiches from lunchtime. After 7pm the menu will include, chicken wings, grilled prawns, roast bass and pork carnitas served at booked tables.

A small bar area will cater for people wanting a drink before a meal.

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Concerns were raised by police and the council over disturbance previously caused by Bar Rio.

However, after Regis accepted a number of conditions, the authorities withdrew their objections.

These include closing at midnight Sunday to Thursday and 1am Friday and Saturday.

The company will employ door staff and will undertake drugs monitoring.

A small outside seating area will be off limits from 10pm to 8am with a maximum of eight people outside and windows will be shut at 10pm.

The restaurant will also have a sound limiter for any music it plays and will display signs asking people to leave quietly and not loiter.

Residents raised concerns after suffering late night disturbance when Bar Rio was open.

Ian Nichols said: “On many evenings when the previous establishments were operating I used to see the pavement both on Broadway and Oakleigh Park drive blocked by people either queuing to get in or appearing to have stepped outside the premises for a break.

“The most recent establishment had a narrow row of tables outside set within a narrow roped area which didn’t work because customers gathered around the tables. Many groups stood both inside and outside the roped area. I’m certain it wasn’t allowed but no one policed it. The pavements at this location are far too narrow for such activities.”

However, David hook, solicitor advocate for the Regis Group said he was concerned with being unfairly “tarred with someone else’s brush”

He said: “The ownership and operation of the premises is entirely different and no relation at all.”

Mr Hook added the Regis Group were “familiar operators in the borough which range from the Roslin Beach Hotel to Dick de Vignes.

“Each of those premises are regarded as the flagship premises of their type within the borough.”