One of Carlisle's top bars and restaurants is branching out - by opening a second outlet, creating about 14 new jobs.

Ilka Rhoades and Alex Murrell, who run the Thin White Duke on Devonshire Street in the city centre, have taken over the Hourglass on Scotland Road, Stanwix.

Mr Rhoades said: "We've been looking for another bar for a while.

"Gordon McGregor, who ran the Hourglass, approached me last year and asked if I would be interested in taking it over.

"We've now bought it off him. It's in a great catchment area and it's a bit different to opening another bar in town."

The Thin White Duke has been a popular name on Carlisle's drinking and dining scene since opening more than six years ago, with a busy crowd packing it out most lunchtimes and evenings.

The Hourglass - which sits in a prominent place at the heart of Stanwix's eating and drinking establishments - is now shut for renovations to take place.

Mr Rhoades, 34, said: "We will be bringing a brand new bar and restaurant to Stanwix and we will be extending it as well.

"We will be moving the toilets and creating another seating area.

"Customers will not recognise it when we've finished as it won't be anything like it is now."

The pair hope the new bar and restaurant will open in March, depending on how renovations go.

Mr Rhoades said: "We have yet to decide on a name but it won't be called Thin White Duke Stanwix."

It will serve food of the same quality as The Thin White Duke.

Mr Rhoades said: "We will be creating about 14 new jobs and they will be a mix of front of house, bar staff and kitchen staff. Three of the staff previously worked part time at the Hourglass.

"We are really excited about it.

"We had hoped to get things on the go before Christmas but that never happened."

Mr Murrell, 32, will primarily be in charge of the new bar and restaurant.

The Hourglass opened in 2007.

The Thin White Duke opened in 2010 on the site of the former Glasshouse pub.

The bar, built on the site of an ancient monastery, has been a Carlisle watering-hole for more than 100 years.

In the past it was called the Friars’ Tavern.