Chocolate drink specialist Knoops has its sights set on Cheltenham.

The brand, which is on a rapid expansion path, wants to take over the former Costa Coffee branch on the Promenade.

The prominent corner unit at number 24 has always been associated with beverages from beer to lattes but has sat empty since the chain shut up shop in 2024.

Knoops now wants to revive it as a mecca for chocolate lovers.

It serves up completely customisable hot and cold beverages, ranging from white to 100% extra dark chocolate with finishing touches such as orange zest and cinnamon.

Plans submitted to Cheltenham Borough Council reveal the brand wants to open a cafe with the same airy vibes as its branches in St Albans and Knightsbridge.

It has applied to adapt and refit the interior of the unit with new seating, flooring, cabinetry, service area, toilets, and a kitchenette for staff. It also wants to put up new signage on the exterior.

The Grade II listed French Renaissance style building dates back to 1890 and boasts an elaborately curved royal coat of arms in the panel above the doorway.

It began life as offices for Cheltenham wine and spirit merchants John Dobell & Co Limited and the first floor was the St. Albans Hotel ale house.

It later became pub Dobells which traded until 2008 when it was converted into a Costa Coffee.

The plans state the building is "nationally important and of special architectural and historic interest" as it is demonstrative of the development of Cheltenham as a fashionable spa town and was designed by key architect William Hill Knight.

A heritage assessment submitted with the application said: "The proposals will have no impact upon the historic fabric of the building, neither internally or externally, and will bring the ground floor retail unit into active continuous use, ensuring the ongoing maintenance of the building."

If approved the new branch would form part of Knoops' ambitious expansion plans for 2025.

Last year it announced plans to expand to 40 branches by the end of 2025 and according to The Grocer raised £9.8m and welcomed Lush co-founder and former Hotel Chocolat chairman Andrew Gerrie to its board.

Founded in 2013 by German Jens Knoop, the company began as one cafe in Rye, East Sussex. Today it has grown to 25 stores nationwide and has launched an at-home range of chocolate flakes and a chocolate cookbook.

Between March 2021-24 it saw a growth rate of more than 870% and has annual UK revenue of circa £16million.

Its board of directors includes the man behind Pret A Manger and Itsu Julian Metcalfe and Alice Avis, former chief executive and chair of the Sanctuary Spa Group.