Plans have been revealed for a popular bar and restaurant to expand into a 17-bedroom hotel.

Owners of the Cinnabar Café, based on Stevenage High Street, revealed plans for the expansion earlier this week.

The application requests a change of use in the building located behind the bar, a disused office space known as Belvue House, to run it as a hotel. It is believed the expansion would create 19 new jobs - 10 full-time, eight part-time.

A document, submitted alongside a planning application to Stevenage Borough Council, reads: “An opportunity has arisen to enter into a lease agreement on the redundant office building adjoining the rear of Cinnabar with a plan of creating an individually styled hotel to be run together with and complement our existing activities. We plan to connect the buildings so that both existing businesses can be run as one operation.

“For some time the office building has been vacant and based on the current economic climate offers absolutely no viable potential for employment of any longevity. It is fair to say that, in its current state, the building will only promote unwanted decay.

“The new building will create job openings for a hotel management team, receptionists, maids, chefs and front-of-house members.

“We feel that the unique scheme is both an appropriate and acceptable form of development and hope the council share our opinion by way of granting their approval.”