BURY town centre is set to get a new pub.

Manchester-based Joseph Holt Brewery can now crack open the champagne, or pull a few pints of its award-winning real ale, to celebrate planning permission for the latest venture.

The basement, ground and first floor of the former Lloyds/TSB bank in Market Street, Bury, will be refurbished to accommodate the pub in the "cultural quarter" of the town centre conservation area.

Voting in favour of the scheme, planning committee member Councillor Wilf Davison asked: "With all the new pubs and restaurants opening in this particular area of Bury town centre, would it be more appropriate to change the cultural quarter title to something else?"

Reporting on the transformation works, borough planning officer Mr Brian Daniel said: "The alterations to the ground floor are considered acceptable as they seek to restore features of historical and architectural interest. The alterations to the shop front would preserve and enhance the character of the conservation area.

A company currently using office space above the former bank is to relocate to a new three-storey office block which is to be built in Lower Bank Street, Bury.