The company which bought the former Remedies nightclub on the Moor has submitted a planning application to open a new bar and café.

Bristol based Loungers wants to open a new Lounge bar in Falmouth, similar to the one in Truro and others throughout the south west, and has applied for consent to carry out work inside the grade II listed former town hall.

The company has applied for permission to carry out repairs to the building, as well as removing the “modern, unsympathetic” work that was carried out by former owners, to bring out the character inside the building.

Vicky Helsby, openings co-ordinator at Loungers, said: “We like to try and keep the history of the building in the decoration, in a tongue in cheek kind of way. We try to find something to tie into that.”

“We’re budgeting around £500,000 for the refit, and sorting out the decorative fixtures and fittings, which we do through vintage sales and auctions locally.”

She added: “It would be a similar style to Truro Lounge, we’re based on being a second lounge for people: a home from home.”

The building, built in 1864, was formerly used as a town hall county court, registrar's office and judges apartment, and an extension housing a fire station was added in 1895.

The design statement submitted to the council said the listing “notes some features of the 19th century court room and the fine quality cantilevered stone staircase within the main entrance hall” and the building has also kept an old magistrates’ canopy on the first floor.

It said: “Many of the modern interventions were made during [the time the building was owned by Remedies] that were not particularly sensitive to the listed building.

“This application will identify and seek to remove some of these modern interventions. Where other interventions are proposed then these will seek to preserve the important parts of the building deemed to have a high heritage asset value.”

The work will include external repairs and renewals which should leave the appearance of the building unchanged. Internally, the plan includes opening blocked up windows and doorways, uncovering the original staircases and floors, removing the old bars and DJ booth and building a new bar, and removing a section of the main first floor room “to create a visual link between the two floors.”

The statement said the proposed changes will “enhance the appearance of the building” and have “a positive impact on the immediate surrounding area”, as well as “keep the building in a single use and will provide public access to the principle rooms”, and allowing the original character of the building to come through again.”

Nick Collins, Loungers’ chief operating officer, said: “We like listed buildings, I think we make the most out of them.

“Particularly with the courtroom, there’s a lot we can do with that space, especially with the canopy, it will be special.”

He added: “We’re West Country based, and have been looking at Falmouth for a while, we’re keen to get into the area.”

“We’re hoping to be open by the summer, but we’ve got some hurdles to get through beforehand.”