The bar, named Sushiya which means 'sushi house' in Japanese, was granted a new premises licence and will be the first of its type in the town.

At the licensing panel hearing on Wednesday Alec Williams, representing the restaurant's owner Kit Hong Lau, responded to objections concerning possible noise and disorder caused by late-night drinking and music at the premises in Regent Grove.

He said: "This will only be a bar in the physical sense and food will be served there.

"The premises will be solely for that purpose. People will walk in and sit at a high stool - there will be seated dining only. The music referred to is only background music. For that reason we described the premises specifically as a sushi bar rather than a restaurant"

Mr Williams explained that police had withdrawn their request for the premises to have trained door-staff after realising it would not be a drinking establishment.

He added: "We agree with all the other conditions set by the police and Mr Lau is happy they become conditions of this premises licence if it is granted."

Gordon Goddard-Pickett, representing the central Leamington resident's association, explained how the group had been unsure of the type of business that the sushi bar would be when it raised an objection.

He said: "We could not address the notice until we knew what it was going to be.

"I would now like to withdraw all of our objections.

He added: "I don't think Mr Lau would even need to come back to this committee if he applied for a restaurant licence."

Refurbishment of the bar's premises, which is close to The Bath Store and Prezzo, is currently taking place but Mr Lau is unsure as to when it will open.