A NEW healthy restaurant is coming to Oxton after its alcohol licence was approved.

Wirral Council's licensing sub-committee approved plans for Fit Grill to sell alcoholic drinks between 8am and 9.30pm seven days a week, with the restaurant remaining open until 10pm.

Fit Grill, set to open at a site on 1a Village Road by the end of the summer, will give each customer a ticket telling them exactly how many calories, carbohydrates, proteins, fats and nutrients are in their meal.

The owners believe that this will help customers to enjoy their food without the worry that it may be unhealthy.

The menu will be formed from a wide variety of cuisines and options will range from staple healthy dishes such as plain chicken and wholegrain rice, to nutritious twists on traditional pub-dishes such as low fat burgers with skinny potato fries.

Darren Robinson, who owns Fit Grill, was at pains to stress that alcohol was not the main part of his offering. He said he wanted a licence so that people could enjoy some alcoholic drinks with their meal.

Speaking at the sub-committee meeting, Mr Robinson said his business was a “premises for someone to come in and eat healthier macro-balanced meals”.

He added: “We’re not a bar and grill as such where you just come in and have a drink, we don’t want that.

“The alcohol that we serve is all low calorie, light alcohol refreshment to have with a meal.”

A local resident had written to the council, arguing the restaurant would create a noise nuisance due to people smoking outside the premises, as well as customers and staff leaving late at night.

The resident also feared a rise in anti-social behaviour should the licence be granted.

But Mr Robinson disputed this, telling the sub-committee he had operating licensed premises before and there would be procedures in place to manage customers leaving the premises.

He added that a strict no smoking and no vaping policy would be in place outside the premises and that signs telling customers this would be put up.