Up to 20 jobs will be created with the opening of a new wine bar and bistro.

Hotelier Joe Wilson has transformed a building in Cockermouth which has lain empty for years, into his new venture which will open next week.

Mr Wilson, who owns the Hunday Manor Hotel at Workington, has converted the Tithe House site, next to Mitchells Auction House on Station Street into a bar and bistro to be called Frederick’s.

The building used to house the JobCentre, which closed more than eight years ago. Following the floods in 2009 it was used to temporarily accommodate shops which had been flooded.

The new venue will accommodate 110 people and be open from 9am until late, seven days a week. It includes a room which holds up to 40 people and can be used for private dining.

“We will be serving morning coffees, light breakfasts, lunches and snacks throughout the day. There will be tapas, pizzas, steaks, a real mix of food,” said Mr Wilson, who lives in Cockermouth, and has employed three chefs.

“I have been wanting to do something like this in the town for many years but never had the opportunity. It’s something fresh and totally different for the town, the sort of place you can wander down to any time of the day. We are aiming for a soft opening next week.”

Workers have been on site since January last year.

“I’m just pleased to get it finished. There have been various issues and when the floods came we decided there was no point in rushing

things. The town is picking up now, which is great.”

Mr Wilson is also developing the upstairs of the 7,400sq ft site into four separate spaces to let, for offices or small businesses.

Steve Bishop, chairman of the town’s chamber of trade, said: “The unit has been empty for quite a long time, it’s good to see it opening again.

“This sort of venue can only be good for the town. As a chamber we are doing a lot of marketing of the town in the next few weeks, it’s always good to see empty buildings being used.”

Mr Wilson has been in the hospitality trade for 27 years. He has taken on a fellow hospitality veteran, Nikki Bruno, to be the front of house manager at Frederick’s.

Nikki, 60, lives in Cockermouth, where he ran his own restaurant, Nikki’s, in Kings Arms Lane for seven years. He has also worked at Allerdale Court, in Market Place, Hundith Hill and Hunday Manor. He is Italian and came to Cumbria 41 years ago to learn English. He met Barbara, his wife, and decided to stay. The couple have two grown-up children.

“I’m looking forward to opening. Frederick’s is catering for everybody, and a bit different. A lot of people have been asking me when it will open,”said Mr Bruno.