A NEW town centre bar in a former bank had to delay its opening this weekend for a day but then saw dozens of customers pack the premises for football and an opening party.

Landlord Matt Andrew has hoped to open the doors of the new Bees Knees sport and music venue in Lord Street West, Blackburn, on Friday night but had to put celebrations on hold because of wet paint.

Instead the bars started trading at 11am on Saturday for football, rugby and cricket fans with around 200 customers passing through for a quick look.

At 7pm on Saturday night it was party time as 250 revellers packed the former TSB Bank to capacity to admire the £250,000 transformation of the premises.

Mr Andrew, 27, from Barrowford, said: “It was a brilliant night and great start.

“It was sad we had to delay the opening because of wet paint, but we couldn’t risk customers getting it on their clothes.

“We wanted to make sure everything was sot on for the opening and it went really well.

“I’ve had some great feedback from customers and I’m really looking forward to the festive season and we will be open on Christmas Day.

“We had about 200 customers during the day watching football, cricket and rugby on various screens.

“We were packed to out capacity with 250 people in the evening with real party atmosphere.”

Mr Andrew revealed the Bees Knees franchise, which has bars in Rawtenstall, Accrington and Oldham, plans to convert Pharaoh’s in Hargreaves Street, Burnley, into its fifth outlet next year.

It is also working on its own ‘house real ale’ with Rawtenstall’s Northern Whisper brewery.

The new bar, the latest in a string to open in Blackburn town centre including the Drummers Arms, The Squire and Tiki Monkey in nearby King William Street, got the thumbs up from James Lee Newton of the Blackburn Nightlife Group.

He said: “I had a brilliant night. It was great to see everyone making a real effort.

”It really was ‘the Bees Kees’ as it says on the door.”

Cllr Phil,Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council regeneration boss, said: “It was a great start for a real addition to the town centre’s nightlife.

“It’s also a good use for a really fine building in the town centre.”