THE site of a popular cafe which closed down in 2012 could become an “opulent” wine bar with VIP seating and an “exclusive” cocktail area.

The much-loved Acropolis Cafe, which had been trading in Bradford city centre since 1968, moved from its first home on Bridge Street to 13 to 17 Broadway in 2001, before closing in 2012.

Now plans have been submitted to turn the empty unit, next to Paddy Power in Landmark House, into a bar.

The owner of a company called Remy International has applied for permission to create a wine bar and bistro in the 1,526 sq m building and says the business will employ five full-time staff.

The secretary of Bradford Chamber of Trade, Val Summerscale, said: “We have mixed feelings about this.

“We obviously want to see a business in there. It’s good news that a company wants to start in a premises that has been empty for a long time.

“It’s always good when businesses want to open in buildings that have been empty for a long time.

“But it’s out of the normal area for bars.

“Acropolis Cafe was a vibrant cafe bar at the time.”

The new bar would be on the ground floor of the seven-storey building, which contains 91 flats and offices on the first floor. But documents show the opening hours of the bar are not yet known.

A heritage statement said the proposals follow the Council’s intentions to develop the area and the plans will”greatly enhance” the building.

The bar will have room for a maximum of 62 customers, with three six-person booths, three poseur tables and shelves for drinks.

There will also be a separate cocktail bar but the documents show no plans for a kitchen.

The application says: “The intention is to create a new opulent-in-feel wine bar.

“The bar will be inclusive for all within the local community, providing a main bar serving free pour drinks and bottle only, no products on tap.

“Coffee and light snacks will be served during the day.

“VIP fixed seating booths with a small exclusive cocktail bar will be included along with new WC’s to serve the customers.”

The applicant was approached by the Telegraph & Argus for a comment.

A separate licensing application has been submitted to the Council for a new business to sell alcohol at 42 Sunbridge Road.

The site was formerly a Christian bookshop but the store closed last year.

Jacob Dyer has now applied for permission to sell alcoholic drinks and play recorded music at a new business on the premises, which would be called Juice Box.

The opening hours listed in the application are from 11am to 11pm daily and from noon to 11pm on Sundays.