A bar and cafe chain opening a new branch in Ashby says it has 'never felt more optimistic' about its future prospects.

Loungers hopes to open in Market Street before Christmas - under the name of Centivo Bar in the building which was home to the HSBC Bank in Ashby.

But it is also launching another 16 branches across the UK - as well as the 238 it already runs.

Loungers says its 34 new openings over the past year had already created an extra 1,000 jobs.

The new ones to come include Ashby, Caerphilly, Carlisle and Cramlington in Northumberland.

Loungers also has plans for bars in Louth, Lincolnshire, Hexham, Northumberland, Paignton, Devon, Penrith, Cumbria, as St Ives, Cambridgeshire, and a new Cosy Club in Oxford.

How Ashby's new cafe-bar in Market Street could look inside. Photo: Loungers

The company outlined the plans as they announced a rise in sales of 7.7 per cent in the 24 weeks to the start of this month, up from 5.7 per cent in the previous 12.

The Sun reports that Loungers made £149.6million in revenue in the first half of this financial year, a 22.3 per cent increase on the previous period.

Chief executive Nick Collins said: "I am delighted with our strong trading performance across both the mature estate and our new openings.

"Our consistent sales growth reflects the continued evolution of our offer and the resilience of the UK consumer and high street.

"With a great pipeline of further openings in front of us I have never felt more optimistic about our prospects.

"None of this would be possible without our amazing team, and as ever I would like to say a massive thank you to them for their hard work."