A NEW nightclub could open in Basingstoke after plans were submitted to the borough council.

Bar Fever has applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for a new premises licence for 27 and 27a Winchester Street, at the Top of The Town.

The venue was formerly occupied by Italian restaurant Cafe Piccolo before it was taken over by Zeus and run as a nightclub for four months.

Another nightclub, Stardust, then took over the venue, but it has been vacant since that closed down in 2013, shortly after opening.

As previously reported in The Gazette, William Hill has also applied to the borough council to use the ground floor of the venue as a betting shop, and the application was due to be considered by the council's licensing sub-committee yesterday.

The application to change the use of the premises to a betting shop was rejected by the council's Development Control committee in August this year, because it went against the local authority's vision for the Top of The Town.

Bar Fever, which also runs nightclubs in Newbury and Cheltenham, hopes to play live music and recorded music in the upstairs part of the building from Sunday to Wednesday between 11am and 2am, and from Thursday to Saturday between 11am and 3am.

It has also asked for permission to sell alcohol from Sunday to Wednesday between 11am and 2am, and Thursday to Saturday between 11am and 3am.

Alcohol would be sold for consumption both on and off the premises.

The applicant also asks to extend the opening by one hour on New Year's Eve, and at the start of British Summertime.

While on Sundays prior to a Bank Holiday, it asks for permission to sell alcohol until 3am.

The venue would be open to the public from 11am to 2.30am Sunday to Wednesday, and from 11am to 4am Thursday to Saturday.

A consultation on the plans ends today.