One of Birmingham city centre's best-known drinking haunts for professionals is set to be transformed into a pub-theatre.

The Fuller, Smith and Turner Brewery, which owns the Old Joint Stock in Temple Row, has applied to turn the second floor of the Grade II listed building into an 80-seat auditorium.

Theatre productions at the former bank would be staged in the evenings, with occasional matinee performances. The 350 square-metre second floor, which is used as a staff room, would also have a box office, cloak room and bar.

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A spokeswoman for the brewery said: "We have put an application in and we are hoping we can serve up culture with cask ale at the Old Joint Stock.

"Work will have to start quite quickly if the application is approved. We are hoping to have the theatre up and running by early spring.

"We are very excited about it. We have plenty of room for it at the Old Joint Stock and we think there is room in Birmingham's cultural climate. Pub theatres are quite common in London, but this would be Fullers' first pub theatre.

"We believe in the finer things in life like quality beer and great wine and it makes sense, if we are targeting those sorts of discerning customers, to appeal to some of their other interests, and we think that plays will be one of them."

In a report to Birmingham City Council's planning committee, planning officer Ellen O'Grady recommended permission granted.

Councillors will decide on Thursday whether to approve the application.