A NEW restaurant and bar serving international cuisine will open in Darwen later this year.

But the owners are keen to quash rumours of lapdancing at the venue.

Francis Robinson and a business partner bought Bayley's Cafe Bar, in Belgrave Road, last week and were dismayed at reports that it would offer 'adult entertainment'.

Mr Robinson, from Mellor, said: "The entertainment will be for adults, by which we mean it will not be focused on children.

"There is no way I would do anything seedy.

"We are thinking of having downstairs as a restaurant and upstairs as a bar with possibly Latin American dancing and discos.

"Darwen needs a more upmarket bar. There are a number of places catering for tracksuits and trainers, whereas this place will be aimed at smart people mainly over 20."

Another spokesman for the bar said: "It will be an exclusive bar for discerning people.

"Even if we wanted to have lapdancing, we probably wouldn't get a licence because it's next to a school.

"We can bring Darwen into the 21st century without having naked ladies in here."

The bar is expected to open some time during the summer."