A NEW business could soon be taking over an empty unit at a city shopping centre.

Private discussions are ongoing between bosses at Crowngate Shopping Centre and a potential new tenant for the unit which will be left by chain restaurant Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen announced it would be leaving Worcester as part of several closures across the country.

The city restaurant would be axed as part of a deal to save the burger chain.

Two preparatory applications have been made to Worcester City Council to change licensing hours at the two units which Crowngate bosses say will make the space more appealing to future businesses.

The first application for the space occupied by chain restaurant Gourmet Burger Kitchen would see licensing hours change for alcohol to be sold between 10am and 11pm Monday to Saturday, with alcohol sold between 11am and 10.30pm every Sunday.

Late night refreshments could be served until 11.30pm every day under the new plans.

The second application asks for permission to show films and play recorded music at the Wildwood unit from 10am until 2am.

Alcohol could be sold between 10am and 2am every day and late night refreshments could also be served until 2am.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen announced in October that its Worcester restaurant would be one of several to close across the country despite the chain managing to avoid going into administration.

Poultry tycoon Ranjit Boparan, who also recently bought Italian chain restaurant Carluccio’s, which incidentally closed its Worcester store in July, would be taking over Gourmet Burger Kitchen.

Gourmet Burger Kitchen opened its first restaurant in Worcester’s Crowngate Shopping Centre in 2016.

Italian restaurant Wildwood opened in Crowngate in 2015.

Consultation ends on the applications on December 21.