A FORMER pot washer who opened a cocktail bar in East Lancashire earlier this month hosted her first burlesque night.

Around 50 people from across the county descended on Rawtenstall in anticipation of the four-hour showcase.

Dubbed as the best from the North West, six burlesque and cabaret dancers, including Lady Wildflower, Cece Sinclair and Claire De Lunacy, performed for guests at The Whip and Kitten, Burnley Road, on Saturday night.

Proud owner Bryony Payne, who opened the craft cocktail bar last month with her sister Liv, 22, described the event as magnificent.

The 27-year-old, from Crawshawbooth, said: “Burlesque is a performance of tantalising dance with a history as rich as ballet. We had six of the best dancers in the North West performing for us and they were phenomenal.

“The whole night felt very inclusive as people of all types visited the bar, and its inclusivity is part of the beauty of holding events like these.”

The former student at Haslingden High School has worked in the bar industry ever since she started out as a pot washer, working at Cafe Artisan, in Bury Road, Rawtenstall, when she was just a teenager.

After spending 13 years working at bars and restaurants in Rossendale, including Mondello’s Restaurant in Crawshawbooth, Ms Payne now runs her own 60-seater bar, formerly a dance club.

She said: “I have worked in bars since I was 14. When you have worked in bars for so long it is the natural thing to want to have your own.

“I have built my way up from a pot washer to manager and hope a small business like this can work,” Ms Payne added.

The design of the bar has been inspired by an underground 1920s New York bar mixed with the vibe of a classic Victorian pub.

A wide selection of craft cocktails, ranging from modern classics to recipes from the 1920s, are available for customers to buy along with several craft beers and food.

On the upper floor, Ms Payne has almost finished creating a new community space, which will be used for classes such as martial arts, yoga and hula hooping.

She said: “Rather than travel to Accrington, Burnley or Hebden Bridge, it’s about making Rawtenstall a social hub for the community.”