PLANS have been unveiled to create karaoke rooms on the upper floors of a Chester city centre bar.

Applicant Shafiq Sharif, the owner of the Guroma Bangladeshi street food stall in New Chester Market and Warrington Market, is looking to expand Chester's nightlife scene with the opening of three private karaoke rooms that would be located on the upper floors of Northgates cocktail bar in Northgate Street.

Currently, the upper floors at the building contain storage, a small kitchen and toilet facilities.

In a design and access statement, the applicant is said to want "to create a private karaoke experience – something that is missing from Chester's nightlife...and is often sought after by local tourists".

It is proposed for three karaoke rooms to be created in existing rooms on the third floor, and provide an additional toilet on the second floor to account for the increase in building capacity.

The plans would "create an interesting unique nightlife experience for Chester that celebrates modern popular music culture", with the design aiming to be sympathetic to the existing building character.

The karaoke rooms would include soundproofed walls.

A Cheshire West and Chester Council planning officer has advised the applicant, pre-application, that the site is located to residential properties on Abbey Square which would be sensitive to noise, and the alterations to the Grade II-listed building need to be carefully considered.

The plans are to be considered by the local authority at a future date.