THIS is the new look which will greet customers using a new upmarket bar and restaurant in Billericay when it opens next month.

Bar Zero, is due to open on April 11 in the Western Road premises previously occupied by the equally swish Vetro champagne bar, which closed last year after trading for only a few months.

New owner Ian Reading, who has worked for 35 years in the music and nightclub business, snapped up the business for a bargain price earlier this year.

Vetro was put on the market for £150,000, after suddenly closing, less than a year after the previous owner had spent £550,000 on refurbishments.

Mr Reading would not reveal how much he had spent revamping the venue, but said he was confident he could make a go of it.

He previously owned Mr B’s, in Southend and was a DJ and entertainment director at Southend’s ToTs nightclub and a DJ at the town’s Zero 6 club.

Bar Zero is opening as an adjunct to his online radio business zeroradio.co.uk Mr Reading said: “It’s a beautiful bar. It’s a dream come true for me to own somewhere like this.

“I have got 35 years experience in the music industry, so I will be bringing that to Bar Zero. We’ve got a real mix of things planned.

“We didn't need to make too many changes to the place, but I know people will think ‘wow!’ when they walk in.”

Bar Zero will open during the day as a family-friendly restaurant and cafe, serving breakfast, coffee, sandwiches and full three-course meals, including traditional Sunday roasts.

In the evenings, it will be a strictly over-25s’ venue for live music and DJs– with local and international live acts playing on Thursday evenings.

Nineties soul singer Kenny Thomas and Georgie B, from Eighties band Second Image are signed up to perform in the first month.

Fridays will be soul night, with club music on Saturdays.

The bar has a VIP room, and the whole venue will be available for hire on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.