A NEW tapas bar is coming to Malvern in a former shoe shop.

Bar Limón opened on August 7 in what was the Clarks shoe shop in Church Street.

Business owner Lucy Dunlop signed a five-year lease on the premises through property consultancy Fisher German, acting on behalf of a private client.

She was inspired to open the bar after spending time living in South America.

Having lived in the town for eight years, she spotted a gap in the market for a tapas bar, deciding to launch her own business after being made redundant last year.

She said: "When I first began looking at properties, I didn’t think it would be possible to open a restaurant in a former retail premises, but the team at Fisher German as well as the local planning authority have been fantastic in showing me the potential of the property.

"It’s been excellent to work with a network of local builders and tradespeople on the project, and I’ve also had help from family and friends.

"It’s also been a real boost for the local economy as I’ve already created 15 jobs, with a mixture of full and part time positions.

"Our menu has been carefully thought out to cater for all dietary requirements and we also have a children’s menu and are dog friendly.

"We’ve had so much interest from the local community who have been asking us questions and even making bookings, and we now can’t wait to open our doors to the public."

The bar and restaurant features indoor seating as well as a secret garden area at the back of the property where customers can enjoy tapas and drinks, including an array of Spanish wines.

There will also be live music from local musicians as well as a gallery space for local artists to display their work.

Lauren Allcoat, of Fisher German, said: “Malvern is a thriving town, so we were able to use our expertise as well as our knowledge of the local market to demonstrate the huge potential of the unit, not only as a retail premises but also as a bar or restaurant.

“Bar Limón will be a fantastic addition to the bars and restaurants in Malvern and we are sure that it will thrive in the town.

“We are now seeking other instructions in the area to help support property owners, businesses and the growth of the local economy.”