WORK has begun on a new bar and restaurant in Angel Street which will replace U Canteen after the Chinese eaterie suddenly closed.

Mojo Bar and Restaurant will take over the building left empty by U Canteen, which shut earlier this month.

As part of the makeover, blue window frames are being painted black and workmen are creating the split bar and new eating areas inside.

Mojo business partner Phil Davies told the Worcester News there will be a gastro menu and live music. They are also hoping to get permission for an outdoor area.

Fellow business partner Matt Williams said they are hoping to get all the work finished in around four weeks.

"It is in the hands of the licensing committee now," he said. "It has gone in today but could take 28 days."

In September, plans to transform the Co-op in Angel Street into a gin palace were rejected by the city's licensing authorities.

Commenting on whether this might lessen Mojo's chances of getting permission for a licence to serve alcohol only, Mr Williams said: "It is a concern but our clientele will probably be around 25-plus and it's going to be a restaurant as well a bar. Fingers crossed the licence goes through.

"We have a licence already to serve alcohol with food, but we want it to be both so if you want to have a meal then brilliant, but if you'd like to just have a drink you can.

"We are bringing jobs to to the area. We will be employing 20-plus staff."

He added: "We hope everyone will get behind us on this."

The pair opened a Mojo bar and restaurant in Wrexham six weeks ago and the Worcester bar will have the same branding and style.

They are also hoping to open a bar in Newcastle-under-Lyme, with around five venues in total by Christmas.

"I'm sure we can get the place looking smart," said Mr Williams of the Angel Street building. "The Wrexham premises were in worse disrepair than this, and it's going well."