A Pals-themed bar could be opened in Accrington town centre, creating 15 new jobs.
Planning approval has been sought to transform the former Liberty Menswear shop, on Blackburn Road in Accrington, into the bar with a function room, conference and training suites upstairs.
The venue would create three full-time staff and 12 part-time staff.
Businessman Michael Long, who also runs The Arcade Bar in Accrington and Printing Village in Great Harwood, has developed the business idea with partners Lee Whitehead and Rick Weighill.
Michael, 27, said the bar will be dedicated to the memory of the Accrington Pals and hopes to boost the number of shoppers and revellers coming into the town.
He said: “We are theming the whole bar inside on the Accrington Pals.
“It will be a bit like the banner on Broadway. We have an eight-metre wall which will be filled with memorabilia and photographs and other things dotted around the room.
“We will also be putting donation boxes in aid of Help for Heroes and are looking at putting a percentage of our profits towards the charity, which is a very worthwhile cause.”
Under the proposals by company No Limits NW Limited, the bar would
be open seven days a week from 9am to 11.30pm on Monday to Thursday and Sunday, and 9am to 3am on Friday and Sunday.
Michael said if he is successful in gaining planning and licensing permission then
he hopes the pub would be open by the end of next
month.
He said: “It’s always good for a town to have new bars and shops opening.
“There have been a couple of pubs close down but then you look at somewhere like H20 which has opened and is doing really well.
“We want to put something in to replace the ones that have gone and to keep people in Accrington both during the day and in the evening.
“There are going to be some good opportunities for jobs.
“There’s a lot of people waiting for it to open, which is nice.
“We are just going to try our best.”
The upstairs of the building would be used for birthdays, christenings and parties and to hold training for first aid, health and safety and personal alcohol licence courses.
A decision will be made by the council in the next few weeks.
