A FORMER popular Workington nightlife venue has been taken on by two Lancashire businessmen who are aiming to inject a new lease of life into the hospitality industry in west Cumbria.

Phillip James and John Ashley took on the Phoenix Tavern in Maryport around April 2022, transforming the venue into the Tap Tavern.

After success in Maryport, the business partners have decided to expand in west Cumbria, taking on the former Chasers Bar in Workington and transforming it into a new nightlife venue and sports bar.

Owner Phillip said: "We are always looking to expand and we feel like Workington is a good town to expand in. 

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"Maryport has been very good overall, we seem to be busy and the local community have taken to us quite well, so it's been a positive thing really."

News and Star: The bar in one of the Lancashire venuesThe bar in one of the Lancashire venues (Image: Bee's Knees)

The new venue will be named Bees Knees, the company already owning eight venues in Lancashire - with the Workington bar being the first of the chain in Cumbria.

Phillip said: "We have a rule we will go anywhere as long as the deal is right. The deal were right for us to go into Maryport at the time and we really liked the area, it's all just gone from there really.

"We have had a few good nights in Workington and seen Chasers had closed, so we approached the owner to buy the building."

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Work is set to start on the venue in three to four weeks, with the new Bees Knees expected to open in the early summer.

News and Star: A look inside one of the company's venues in LancashireA look inside one of the company's venues in Lancashire (Image: Bee's Knees)

Speaking about the impact the new venue will have on the area, Phillip said: "We like to think we know what we are doing, we spend a lot of money on the refurbishments and we spend a lot of time on giving people memories with cocktails and making the pub very Instagrammable.

"We also spend a lot of money on sports, giving the venues the best equipment.

"It's really took off on social media (since the announcement). I think the area really needs investment like this, from what I hear in the area it used to be a really busy place for nightlife and it's dropped off with things like the cost-of-living and things over the last ten years.

"So if we can just help it a little bit to become what it was like, and give people a good time, then so be it."