A Carlisle club boss has taken over a second city party venue.

Julie Brown, who runs the nostalgia club Deja-Vu on Botchergate, is now in charge of The Venue on Portland Place.

The Venue is used as an event space for gigs, comedy nights, beer festivals and parties. It has several bars and was formerly known as The Las Vegas Strip.

Julie said: "It made sense to take over The Venue as it's just round the corner from Deja-Vu."

Julie used to run Molly's - a Speakeasy bar - in Lowther Arcade.

This closed three weeks ago and Julie has moved all the antiques and memorabilia into The Venue where she will recreate Molly's.

She said: "I am honouring all the bookings that were made at The Venue.

"We had a sixth form party on two weekends ago and last weekend we had the Carlisle Blues Rock Festival.

"In November we've got a beer festival on and we also have Target Wrestling once a month and Mixed Martial Arts.

"A lot of groups have re-booked so we must be doing something right."

The popular Clubbercise exercise sessions are also returning to The Venue.

Julie says the venture has created 11 bar jobs and staff will work at both The Venue and Deja-Vu.

"Staff will be able to work at both places so it gives them a bit of variety."

On Molly's she said: "Someone offered to buy the lease and I said yes. I don't know what they're plans are for the bar.

"I am going to do some painting and tidying up and decorate a few of the bars so they can be created for different uses.

"In the future I would like to be able to host hen party nights and cocktail making classes."

Julie has been running Deja-Vu for three years now.

The bar and club on Botchergate plays songs from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.

She said: "My time at Deja-Vu has been relatively trouble free. The police have been called out five or six times in three years. I put this down to my excellent door staff. I am an ex-door person myself.

"Friday night is a relatively quiet night in Carlisle but Saturday is busier. I think there are enough customers to go around if everyone does something a bit different to their neighbours."