A new wine bar is at the centre of an ambition to redevelop a former restaurant in a prominent town centre location.

A planning application has been submitted to Darlington council for the creation of a new venue named Veeno at the site of the former Pizza Hut at Horsemarket.

The proposal includes a bid to install new signage, a hanging sign and an ambition to carry out light refurbishment work inside.

The grade II listed building is currently empty after Pizza Hut closed last year, and the applicant says the proposed alternations would preserve and not affect the building’s appearance.

Darlington and Stockton Times: The former Pizza Hut restaurant in Horsemarket, DarlingtonThe former Pizza Hut restaurant in Horsemarket, Darlington (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Veeno currently has sites throughout the UK in: Bristol, Chester, Edinburgh, Leeds, Leicester, Reading, Reigate, Stratford. 

It advertises itself online as "Sicilian wine makers (and drinkers) passionate about cocktails and food, obsessed with friendly customer service".

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Speaking after its closure in December 2021, Pizza Hut said it had been "saddened" and that the closure was "beyond our control."

The national chain suggested the closure was due to the impact from the Covid pandemic and confirmed that it had redeployed several staff to neighbouring sites.

Further details on the redevelopment of the site into a wine bar are expected to be uploaded in due course.