Bookseller Waterstone’s has confirmed it will next week open a restaurant and bar in its Deansgate branch in Manchester, as well as a new café in its Cambridge shop.

Both venues will be known as 2nd View and will open on August 31 with the hope of increasing footfall to both stores.

Last month Retail Week revealed that Waterstone’s was planning to open a bar above its Deansgate branch.

The bookseller’s sister chain HMV has also been experimenting with its shop space. HMV’s Wimbledon branch features a Curzon Cinema on its top floor and the entertainment retailer plans to roll more out, as does Waterstone’s, which will open its first one in its Piccadilly shop next year.

2nd View Manchester will open from 8.30am - 10pm Monday to Saturday; and 10.30am - 5pm on Sunday.

2nd View Cambridge will be open from 9am - 8pm Monday to Friday; 9am - 7pm on Saturday; and 11am - 5pm on Sunday.

Both venues will be run by Elior UK, which also operates Waterstone’s 5th View bar in its Piccadilly branch.

Waterstone’s operations director Roger Childs said: “5th View adds immensely to Waterstone’s Piccadilly as a destination for shoppers – it’s one of the best bars in town, popular with book buyers and other shoppers alike.

“I am sure these two new cousins will be equally enthusiastically received, attracting both regular Waterstone’s shoppers and new visitors to the branches.”