Plans have been submitted for a new bar and bistro at Dudley Town Hall.

It will be accessed off Priory Street using the Memorial Tower entrance, with plans to also create an outside seating area for continental style drinking and dining during the warmer months.

The new facility will generate additional income for the council by providing an additional outlet selling drinks and refreshments for people attending shows at the St James’s Road venue. It is hoped it will stop concert and gig-goers leaving the venue during intervals to get drinks at nearby pubs.

The plans also reveal that council bosses plan to open the new bar and bistro every day to the public and not just when shows are on at the venue. Councillor Ian Kettle, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said:

"This is an exciting development for the town hall, and for Dudley town centre. The existing bar at the town hall is too small, and as a result for many years people have chosen to buy pre-show or interval drinks at nearby pubs rather than at the venue.

"We need to maximise the hall’s revenue opportunities to ensure it remains a viable venue in the future, and this will help us to do that."

The planning application has been submitted by Dudley Council this week, and will be determined in due course. More information can be found on the Dudley Council planning portal.