A new bar and restaurant is set to open next week with an appearance from a reality TV star.

Kitchen and cocktail bar, The Snug, will host a grand opening in Hitchin next Friday, May 16, with Jamie Laing from E4 show Made in Chelsea shaking cocktails on the night.

The business replaces Bar Ab on Sun Street, which closed on April 26. The business was sold to The Snug chain, which has bars across Hertfordshire and in Cambridge.

Giles Fry, owner of The Snug, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing The Snug and its premium cocktail and kitchen offering to Hitchin.

“The Snug has gone from strength-to-strength in its five other locations in the UK, and we hope that the people of Hitchin will love The Snug experience and everything that our fun and friendly bar and kitchen has to offer. We have really warmed to Hitchin and its community and can’t wait to be part of it.”

Keith Hoskins, Hitchin town centre manager, said: “Welcome to a new business and best wishes to Tom at Bar Ab in his new endeavours. The Snug reaffirms Sun Street’s varied food and drink offer, and I am always pleased to see a seamless transfer rather than a unit laying empty.”

The Snug will be open daily, with a Happy Hour from 3-7pm, as well as lunch and all day menus from Monday to Friday.

The opening follows North Herts District Council’s approval for plans for the refurbishment of the former Conservative club on Sun Street to be turned into a JD Wetherspoon.

As reported in the Comet last week, the district council’s licensing and appeal committee also gave the green light to the pub chain’s opening hours – from 7am-12.30am and until 1.30am on the Sunday proceeding bank holidays, Christmas Eve, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve – despite objections from residents.