Pictured above: Alastair Payne
A popular Staffordshire bar is set to unveil its new
£100,000 extension which will create up to 10 new jobs.
The bank bar & lounge, in Cannock, will unveil the new bank
vault at a special opening night on Friday (June 10). The event is
taking place between 9pm and 2am.
It has been built in disused office space at the back of the
premises to the bank bar and lounge. The sophisticated bank vault
has a self-contained bar, stage, dance floor, private booths and a
smoking garden outside. It will hold around 120 people.
The bank vault will be used as a function room for weddings and
private parties but will also be opened to customers at a weekend
as the current facilities haven't got a dance floor.
It will also see the creation of up to 10 new jobs including bar
staff, doormen and catering staff.
The venue is owned by businessman Alastair Payne who toured as
an associate of Britpop megastars Blur before opening his own
bars.
He said: "I think our customers will be very impressed with the
bank vault. The one thing which has always been missing is the lack
of a dance floor which people often mentioned to me and the new
extension will fill this void.
"It will be available to hire for special occasions such as
weddings and birthday parties and we have already taken a number of
bookings.
"The bank vault has its own bar, stage, dance floor and booths
which have built-in ice buckets for wine and champagne. It is high
class and sophisticated. I am delighted with the look of it and I
am confident customers will be just as delighted.
"I have designed and project managed the bank vault and hired
all local tradesmen to build it. It has been a really exciting
project and I am really looking forward to opening night."
The building takes its name from the building's former use as a
branch of Lloyds TSB. The building was reopened as the bank bar
& lounge back in 2006.
The venue also provides quality food served up by its chef
Alastair Campbell and is now serving food until 8pm.
It was also the first venue in the area to bring in a covered
and heated smoking area before the ban was imposed back in
2007.