A new Oriental-themed bar and restaurant is to open on Brighton seafront despite objections from local residents and businesses.

The venue, called Jim Thompson's, is part of the Aquarium Terraces development and the owners intend to spend £1 million before it is ready to open in April.

The company, which runs a small chain around London, was granted a cafe bar licence for up to 300 customers, including 120 people standing up, by licensing justices at Brighton Magistrates Court yesterday.

But there were objections to the application because of its size and concerns it would cause an increase in late-night noise and disturbance.

Mark Harris, representing the company, assured the court the venue would not be run like a large pub and the customers it intended to attract were professional people aged between 25 and 40.

He said: "This is a new, interesting and different concept and certainly one that cannot be categorised as an overgrown pub."

He said the theme venue was inspired by Jim Thompson, an American silk trader in the last century. The company attempts to create an exotic feeling in its venues and serves food from South-East Asia.

There were objections from Brighton and Hove Licensed Victuallers, the Kingscliffe Society, the Return the Aquarium Terraces Group, the Campaign for a Better Brighton and Hove, St James's Street Action Group and two local hotels.

Local resident Trevor Scoble, representing Return the Aquarium Terraces Group and St James's Street Action Group, told the hearing people living in the area were suffering from an increase in noise, disturbance, crime and disorder.

He said: "To have a cafe bar with 120 drinkers standing up is the equivalent of two or three new pubs in the area."

Bev Robbins, of the licensed victuallers association, said the organisation was increasingly concerned about the number of new licences being granted in the town.

Zev Solomon, chairman of the licensing committee, told objectors the magistrates had sympathy with local residents but had decided to grant the application as they considered the new venue would be properly supervised.

The conditions on the new licence include a ban on customers drinking outside the venue.