A NATIONAL bar chain will spend more than £1million transforming Southend's former HMV store after winning the approval of councillors.

Revolution Bars were granted an alcohol licence by Southend Council yesterday, after revealing plans to create 50 jobs by investing in the rundown Queens Road building.

Property director Godfrey Russell said the company plans to build a retractable roof on the first floor, which will make way for an outside dining and drinking area inspired by rooftop gardens in New York and Miami.

The space will also be available to smokers.

Mr Russell 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."

He added the chain, which also owns the Revolucion de Cuba brand, has more than 60 bars in major UK cities.

It was attracted to Southend because of the vibrant town centre, Mr Russell said.

He added: "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 bar’s licence will be in operation between 11am and midnight Sundays to Wednesdays, and 11am to 2am Thursdays to Saturdays.

There will be a 30 minute“dispersal” period afterwards, during which hot drinks may be served.

Mr Russell sought to ease fears about the bar increasing noise and disruption in the area, telling licensing committee members the chain had even offered to pay to replace neighbour Lucy Ware’s sash windows with double glazing.

He said: “Her concern was Queens Road would get busier but, more importantly, that it would cause disturbance to her flat. I gave her assurances about our acoustic lobby, our sound system, and that there would be no break out noise.

“She asked about our patrons and people who go into our premises and I explained the first floor al fresco area and dispersal policy.

“The only thing she was concerned about was that the windows to the front of her flat are old sash windows so are quite ‘leaky’ – I offered to replace those windows with acoustic double glazed windows with the consent of the landlord.”

The planning application to convert the use of the building from a shop to a bar is still being considered by the council.