A DINGY cellar below a Cricklade hotel could be transformed into an exclusive hang-out for the Chardonnay set.

Landlord Mark Ingle has applied for planning permission to turn the cellar of the 16th century Vale Hotel into an exclusive wine bar.

Mark, 38, who took over the High Street hotel 15 months ago with partner Cherise Hutchinson, believes the underground bar formerly used by coachmen - will fill a lucrative gap in the market.

"At the moment we are running to maximum capacity and every Friday and Saturday night we have to turn 40 to 50 people away," said Mark, a former oil refinery worker.

"When people come to the bar they nearly always ask for the wine list and we can serve between 50 and 60 bottles of wine a night."

If North Wiltshire District Council approves the application for the bar, which will have room for 80 to 100 people, it could be open in time for Christmas.

Mark, who has already refurbished the bar and restaurant areas of the hotel, makes no bones about the fact that not everybody will be able to get into the bar, which will be run by Cherise.

He said: "It will be VIP only. We live in a very rich and wealthy area.

"You will only be able to get in if you are somebody and you will have to fill in an application form.

"Our standards are high at the moment and they will be going up even higher. The dress code will be very nigh and there will be no caps."

Mark said his regulars are looking forward to the new venture.

He added: "They keep asking me when it's going to open. They are screaming for a wine bar in Cricklade."