These pictures show the first look at plans for a huge new food and drinks venue coming to the city.

The site of the old Topshop store at the front of Brighton’s Churchill Square shopping centre will be converted into a branch of The Botanist.

Apart from being a vaccination centre during the Covid pandemic, the site has been empty for two years since Topshop went into administration in 2021.

Now, plans to convert it into a pub and restaurant with a rooftop bar have been approved. The venue will have room for almost 500 people.

As well as a new shopfront and changes to the internal layout, the venue is expected to have outdoor seating on the roof.

Five people objected to the planning application which was approved by Brighton and Hove City Council planning officers under delegated powers.

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It will be part of a national chain of more than 25 gastropubs scattered across the country. Currently, the nearest branch to Sussex is in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.

The application was originally submitted by New World Trading Company, the company in charge of The Botanist and The Florist chains as well as other bars.

In it, the company said: “The Botanist is most appropriately described as a destination premises which offers an ‘all day haven’ rather than a ‘stepping stone’ to other licensed premises.

“The Botanist’s approach is to provide a relaxed food and drink experience, with an emphasis on the novelty of experience and trying new flavours.”

The plans mean the bar could host nearly 500 people, with 264 seats indoors, 168 at tables and 96 in the bar areas.

There will be 214 more seats outside on the decked roof, with 102 seated and 112 in what is described as the bar and chill area.

A planning condition restricts the use of the roof terrace between midnight and 9am.

The Botanist has submitted an application to the council for a premises licence, permitting the sale of alcoholic drinks. It is due to be decided by a council licensing panel on Thursday, March 2.

New World has applied to be able to serve drinks from 9am to 2am from Thursday to Saturday and from 9am to 1am from Sunday to Wednesday.