AN empty shop may become a Japanese restaurant with downstairs bar or casino.

The former Superdrug store could be turned into a hospitality venue, if the plans are approved.

The site is at 179-180 High Street, next to Poppin's cafe.

READ MORE: New rooftop bar, cocktail lounge and Japanese restaurant coming to city

An application has been put in to Southampton City Council for a change of use.

The plans include the shop being used as a restaurant, the basement being turned into a bar or casino, and the public footway outside an outdoor seating area.

Proposals suggest it may be turned into a Japanese restaurant serving temaki with a drinks bar and a sushi bar to cater for up to 100 customers.

Downstairs, there are plans for a music bar of 250 square metres.

The "dual use" consent is so that either a casino or a bar can be established at the site.

Plans also include a new entrance from the street to the basement, bi-fold shopfront doors, a swing front door to the restaurant, and fabric canopies for the outdoor seating area.

Both the bar and the restaurant would be open from 9am to 1am and the venues are expected to create around 20 new jobs.

But works need to be done before any changes can be made.

Urgent work is currently being done on the empty basement and other parts of the building as it has fallen into "a state of disrepair", the application says.

The application was made by Southampton planning consultants Luken Beck, acting as agents for a Mrs S. Sun.

Luken Beck has also been involved with Southampton's Harbour Hotel and the Loperwood Lane, Totton, housing development.

A decision will be made on the application by January 2.

A similar application has been approved by the council a few doors down for a new rooftop bar, cocktail lounge and Japanese restaurant.

Chinese restaurant Shanghai 1814, at 165-168 High Street, will be getting a revamp to include a new Teppanyaki restaurant.

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