A NEW Hawaiian bar is aiming to transport people to a more tropical climate when it opens its doors in Blackburn town centre.

The tiki bar-style venue will be known as Tiki Monkey and will serve a range of cocktails.

It will open in March next year in King William Street next door to the town’s newest micropub The Drummer’s Arms.

Business partners Benj Ashmead, Dean Rothwell and Rachel White are behind the new venture.

Mr Ashmead said: “I used to live in the Northern Quarter in Manchester and there is so much choice around there, lots of great little bars with loads of character.

“I thought it would be amazing to open something like that.”

“With The Napier and the micropub opening the town’s getting a bit of a buzz about it.

“And recently when I went out places were busting at the seams so I thought it was time to take the leap.

“We’re not looking to compete with places like the micropub but complement them and get a real circuit going.”

The trio also plan to have a drinks menu compiled by an award-winning mixologist and will offer a range of American craft beers and ales.

The new bar has been supported by Blackburn with Darwen Council as part of a drive to encourage new businesses into the borough’s town centres.

The scheme sees new businesses offered a helping hand such as rate relief and planning permission assistance.

Cllr Phil Riley, executive member for regeneration, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve got yet another great new venue opening up in the town.

“This is exactly the kind of new business we’ve been working to attract something a bit different that will help set us apart as a destination and that will build on the reinvigoration of our night-time economy.”