A new bar founded by local business owners will open its doors in just a few weeks’ time.

The Grapes, a collaborative drinks and live music venue on the corner of Long Lional and Market Square in Aylesbury, will open its doors in August - and is set to offer "much more than the usual beers, wines and cocktails". 

Based at 36 Market Square, the former home of cocktail bar The Snug before it closed last May, it will host events including themed nights and comedy, plugging what its owners perceive to be a glaring gap in the town's nightlife. 

Naomi Clayton-Temple, who runs Claytons Cleaning Company, was the driving force behind the new venue and was joined by Alan Butler, founder of Blakes Financial Management Ltd and Kevin Wong, former landlord of The Watermead Inn, in buying and dreaming up the brand-new enterprise.

They were granted planning permission to overhaul parts of the Grade-II listed building in June, including the construction of three new stud walls. Permission to install new signage is still pending approval from Buckinghamshire Council.

The co-owners confirmed that the building has undergone an “extensive refurbishment”, with further details to be unveiled in due course.