A POPULAR sports bar is opening its flagship store in Southampton next month – five years after a planning application was submitted.

Sharkey’s Sports Bar has scored an opening date after its “long-awaited” arrival in the city.

Described as a premier sports venue, the bar will open at 136 Above Bar Street on Friday, June 24.

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The sports bar already has a well-loved home in Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, which reopened after a devastating fire in 2016.

Planning for the bar was submitted to Southampton City Council in 2017 and was approved the following year.

However, the opening was delayed.

Now, the owners are “delighted to announce” the highly anticipated arrival of the bar which will be spread across three floors.

The venue will boast over 20 tables, including American, English snooker and table tennis tables alongside a number of 75-inch screens and “huge” projectors.

Dedicated dart lanes, VIP and VVip Rooms featuring the latest XBOX series X and Playstations 5 will also be available to enjoy.

Bookings for Southampton will be taken from Monday, May 23.

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