Mrs Grumpy,there is only one pound shop in Carlisle,hardly inundatded is it? I've been utterly amazed at the shop snobbery recently,people need to get realistic and realise that there is not a lot of money about. Malmaison in Carlisle. Ha. There just isn't the demand. Not only is The Lonsdale close,it overlooks a taxi rank and take away. Just the ticket for a peaceful Saturday night I a luxury hotel.

I agree that an aparthotel and vodka bar is too ambitious and upmarket for Carlisle.

Time and time again we articles in the News and Star from well-meaning prospective developers or proprietors all starry-eyed about some fancy niche bar, restaurant or boutique something or other. About three months later we then read about how the venture has closed down.

The aspirations are all well and good but they aren't in tune with what works in the city, i.e. nothing fancy.

Botchergate for example would probably be most profitable if one side were given over to an enormous Wetherspoons with an enormous Border Rambler opposite and perhaps a couple of fish and chip shops.

@nichola - we can't pick and chose who is willing to invest in our city when these buildings have been empty for so long pretty much any business which provides jobs is welcome. Also it may have escaped your notice but we have a 5million pound purpose built youth centre which is open 6 nights a week for under 21's 5 mins walk away from this building.

A vodka bar?? Thats a great attraction...alcohol.. Even if its a classy bar it wont be for long. People turn into morons after a drink why dont they do something more productive like a youth center or something for the community rather than people making money from people drinking themmselves into oblivion! Im sorry but alcohol destroys lives and causes huge crime rates and a burden on the nhs, i dont get how its legal? When theres marijuana thats very beneficial medically and thats illegal? Its only illegal because of the greedy timber companies were threatened because it was cheaper to make and manufacture hemp, its backwards...please no more bars!!

@Adam - thanks for the infomercial. OK, my statement was a little tongue in cheek - I do know what a vodka bar is - but in this age of alcohol limits for men and women, isn't promoting the consumption of spirits a little PI?

So, I suppose we'll all go out and drink responsibly and have one or two vodkas then go home as we've hit our limit. Ha ha I doubt it. Five? Ten? Fifteen? Twenty? We all have a different threshhold; lets see how it goes then.

Carlisle couldnt even sustain Hoopers or Chapmans so what chance a poncy Aparthotel and Vodka Bar? Words fail me. The city seems to alternate beween absolute apathy with zero ambition to complete off the wall delusions of grandeur. Cant we find a middle way that allows the City to develop in a sustainable fashion? Sorting out the part slum part vegas drag strip Botchergate would be start.

Derek, whilst a Vodka Bar seems to peak your interest, I will let you into a little secret. I worked for Revolution and it isn't quite as it seems. It is actually a normal bar, which just promotes selling vodka rather than other spirits offering a wide range from across the world, things such as zubrowka, to chase, to eristoff and even absolut. It also specialises in vodka based cocktails and even offers at most of their venues food which sometimes incorporates vodka into sauces etc. It is actually a pretty classy bar and was a pleasure to work for. I think a revolution in Carlisle would be a grand idea, granted it opens correctly and is offered the correct promotions to the right crowd of people. It will also offer some great competition for the neighbouring Andalusian (sp?) as both offer cocktails and food and a welcoming atmosphere and the standards will be set high in the competition.

@Anon - Johnstitch makes the point that the Lonsdale site could be used for parking for the new aparthotel.

So what is your point at 28 June 2012 at 09:01 ?

Exactly what problem do you have with the "theatre brigade"?

Another great idea - a VODKA BAR !!!!! Where people can only drink vodka and get bladdered quicker than drinking beer.

Fantastic. Bring it on.

Not an ideal site for a hotel - no parking and next to the eyesore that once was the Lonsdale cinema. No need for more hotels - plenty already. Botchergate doesn't need to be extended any further - more than enough bars, pubs and clubs for any city.

Carlisle clearly needs more to attract visitors in the way of history. We could very easily compete with the likes of York, Chester, Edinburgh,etc but nobody from the local authority seems to see what everyone else can. Also a proper park n ride scheme (not the half hearted attempt we had before) that is primarily for visitors and sign-posted properly.