The man behind the Hop Festival and popular pub The Vaults could be opening a new wine bar in Faversham town centre.

The former fancy-dress shop in Preston Street could be transformed into a fancy wine bar if landlord of the Vaults and director of the Hop Festival David Thompson’s plans are approved.

Faversham Town Council will be the first to view the proposal at their next meeting in February and if Swale Borough Council is content, Frogley’s wine bar will open its doors.

Mr Thompson is keeping tight-lipped until the application for change of use from retail to wine bar is approved, but for now, he told the Faversham News: “We are hoping for a decision by March.

“If all goes through, we hope to offer a selection of high-end wines, a few soft drinks and lagers, as well as a few nibbles.

“It is a fantastic building and we believe there is a niche in the Faversham market for something like this.”

The application says: “There will be a wide range of wines and soft drinks, including some local products, and there will be a limited selection of tapas style food available.

“The aim is to sympathetically renovate the building, in line with its listed status, using quality local products and trades people.”

The building used to be Rainbow’s End fancy dress shop and sits right next door to Mr Thompson’s pub The Vaults.

Faversham Business Partnership director Lucy Guthrie said: “Furlongs and more recently Jittermugs with its new bar and evening offer show that independent drinking venues with a difference work.

“If this application delivers something exciting and new I am sure Faversham will embrace it.”

To view and comment on the plans, CLICK HERE and search for reference: 15/510465/FULL.