THE GLITZ and the glamour of wartime cinema is being brought to Poynton in the shape of a new bar and restaurant.

Bacall's, named after Hollywood starlet Lauren Bacall, is set to open for a launch party on Thursday and will open to the public on Friday.

New owner Jonathan Wilkinson let out a sigh of relief after he was granted a public entertainment licence by the council's licensing committee on Monday.

He had applied for the licence three weeks ago, but was refused permission by councillors until the extensive refurbishments were fully complete.

Jonathan, 47, bought the bar, formerly the Foyer Cafe Bar and Landing Restaurant, to fulfil a dream after the decline of his family's textile business.

The father-of-four also went "undercover" at a bar in Knutsford to learn the tricks of the trade.

He said: "I didn't tell anyone I was doing it, but did numerous jobs for about six months, just learning the trade."

The former 1930s art deco cinema on London Road South will now be a bar, Mediterranean restaurant, and late lounge with DJs and live acts.

Guests to the exclusive ticket-only opening bash will be served a champagne reception by waitresses looking like Marilyn Monroe and waiters dressed up as Humphrey Bogart.

Jonathan, who lives in Wilmslow, has also paid attention to fine details, such as printing the menu on old film, serving cocktails in glasses true to the era and leaving the old pay kiosk of the cinema intact.

He also spent hours doing research and based the decor on the original art deco theme, with lots of maple, black and white and stainless steel.

He said: "I'm not a major fan of cinema of that era and am too young to remember it myself.

"But I wanted to keep the theme true to the building's origins as a cinema.

"We will be showing old black and white movies upstairs in the late lounge during the evening, but they will be silent, while we have our music on.

"But I will definitely consider having a cinema evening."

Bacall's was granted an entertainment licence for the bar on Tuesday to Saturday from 8pm to 11pm and the restaurant from 8pm to midnight.

The late lounge was granted a licence from 11am to midnight from Monday to Wednesday, until 1am Thursday to Saturday and noon to 10.30pm on Sunday.

Bacall's is open to the public from 5pm on Friday.

Anyone wanting to make a restaurant booking should call 01625 879577.