A HOMEWARE and fashion chain is set to move into a vacant unit in Winchester city centre – replacing a café with a shop.

Oliver Bonas has applied to Winchester City Council to make changes to the former Starbucks premises at 31 High Street.

The company, which calls itself an “independent British lifestyle store”, wants to carry out external and internal works, including repainting the existing shop front, new signage, and new ground floor stud partition walls and flooring.

The application’s heritage statement says: “The proposed external works to the shop front are minimal with no significant impact on the on the existing building, with the opportunity to refresh the paintwork. All original shop front features are retained with no changes proposed other than repainting. The proposed signage is minimal and sympathetic to the conservation area replacing existing fret cut non-illuminated branding for similar non-illuminated fret cut lettering in brass in consideration and respect of the area.”

Oliver Bonas opened its first shop in Fulham, London, in 1993, and today the retailer has around 80 stores across the UK and Ireland, including one in Southampton.

Starbucks closed in March last year at the beginning of lockdown, but the company officially announced it would not reopen in July. The coffee brand has since reopened on the corner of Market Lane.

Oliver Bonas has been contacted for a comment on when the store will open and how many jobs are likely to be created.