Having a Ball as bars show off new look

Cannon and Ball at the official opening of new-look Lowther Studio. Below: Staff enjoying the opening of The Station Tavern in Lytham.

The Lowther Pavilion bar has undergone a £32,000 make-over after an 18-month fund-raising drive in the community.

On Saturday, comedy duo Cannon and Ball officially opened the renovated bar at the Lytham theatre.

And the Station Tavern pub, on Station Square, Lytham, has also reopened after a £150,000 facelift.

Staff enjoying the opening of The Station Tavern in Lytham.

The Friends of Lowther Pavilion charity, who helped raise the bulk of the money used to refurbish the bar, said they had a narrow window of opportunity to get the work done.

The work had to be done in January, when the theatre is quietest, meaning all the funding had to be in place in time.

Vice-chairman Rosie Wither added: “This is the first major project we have done that the public would directly see and it looks wonderful – it makes a huge difference.

“It is a major way of increasing income for the theatre because if you have got a lovely bar, people will be more inclined to stay for a drink.

“There were terrible bottlenecks before because we had a little four-foot bar but now we have got this lovely long bar so you don’t get those long queues and crushes.”

And she said she was delighted with the turnout for the event at the weekend.

She added: “Cannon and Ball did the official opening – we thought we would take advantage of the fact they were going to be there.

“It was fantastic.

“Obviously the weather was horrendous so we weren’t sure if people would turn up but lots of people came.

“Our chairman Janet made a very nice speech thanking people for the fund-raising and the hard work involved in getting it competed in time.”

Meanwhile, staff at the Station Tavern are enjoying their revamped premises after a hefty six-figure investment.

The pub was closed for a month while the work took place, following the announcement Star Pubs and Bars, which owns the tavern, would be splashing the cash.

The pub closed for several months in 2011 but was taken over by new landlords Simon Malings and Debbie Blackshaw last year.

The overhaul caps a remarkable turnaround for the former train station and the couple hope it will continue to go from strength to strength.

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