A listed building in Sandwich could become a new wine bar, cafe and delicatessen.

Wine importer Cristiano Maiello and interior designer Stephen Fairfax, of Divino London, have requested a licence to sell alcohol and provide entertainment at 60 King Street.

The pair, who run a wine and spirits shop online, are hoping to open it by late spring.

Mr Fairfax said: “It has been closed for two years. We’d like it to be a delicatessen, a wine bar and a cafe, the three together.

“We’d like it to be something that is very chic and different.

“We’ve got friends down this way and I’ve been coming down here for quite a long time.

“We just wanted to give London a break. We thought this would be a lovely thing to do.”

They have applied for a licence for recorded music from 10am to 11pm Monday to Sunday, and the supply of alcohol from 11.30am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, and from noon to 11pm on Sunday.

Mr Fairfax said: “It will be very soft background music just to create an atmosphere.”

The property has previously been a bookshop and a delicatessen.

Bryfair applied to change the retail shop into a wine bar in 2002, however planning permission was refused.

A spokesman for Dover District Council said: “An application for a premises licence has been received.

“There are currently no undecided planning applications in relation to this property.

“If the owners are proposing to change the use then they require planning permission.”