A prime seafront spot previously earmarked for a swanky wine bar will instead be turned into a pilates studio.

The Savoy Snooker & Social Club, which was just yards from the beach in Whitstable, was flattened four years ago to make way for a luxury residential complex boasting a top-floor penthouse.

The original rubber-stamped proposals gave the green light for a wine bar to open up in commercial space on the ground floor.

However, Whitstable-based developer George Wilson has since rethought the Beach Walk plot and bagged the go-ahead to open up a relaxed exercise studio.

"We worked in conjunction with the residents and it was agreed it'd be better suited for something else", Mr Wilson said.

"We got approached by a pilates firm so that's what we're going with.

"It should all open next year."

In the bid to the city council's planning team, agents Hobbs Parker stated: "With the flats now completed and successfully occupied there would no doubt be some concern from residents should the wine bar now be introduced."

The change of use was given the seal of approval by authority officers.

The make-up of the ground floor will consist of a reception area, three consulting rooms and a studio area catering for up to six people at a time.

A business has been lined up to take on the space.

Four members of staff will work from the seafront site, with the venue operating seven days a week.

On weekdays it will be open from 8am until 9.30pm, while at the weekends it will close its doors at 12.30pm.

No extra parking spaces are planned, with attendees opting to use existing on-street bays or the town's main Gorrell Tank car park.

A gradual decline in interest in snooker was blamed on the drop in the number of visitors at the former Savoy.

Plans for its demolition were drawn up in 2015 and approved the following year.

But now, rather than sipping on fine wine, customers will be stretching their muscles and improving their posture.

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