OWNERS of a new jazz bar and cafe opening in Darwen aim to “take the town back 50 years”.

Called Three In A Bar, the venue opens in Belgrave Road to VIPs on Sunday, May 23 and is aimed at giving over-25s a place to ‘rest, work and play’.

Erica Dobie and Andy Barnes went to St Wilfrid’s High School, Blackburn, and rekindled their friendship on Facebook.

Along with Paul Rigby, who set up the Northern Jazz Orchestra, who Erica knew from working at Blackburn with Darwen Council, they persued their dream of owning a bar, Erica said: “There’s nothing like this on offer in Darwen.

"We want to rejuvenate the town and offer a place to go where you don’t necessarily have to have a drink.

“What we hope to have are high-quality live music nights, poetry readings, cinema screenings and a cafe during the day.

“It’s about fellowship and friendship – how it used to be 50 years ago.”