By Pam McClounie City centre reporter

Last updated at 10:10, Saturday, 07 July 2012

Plans for a new club in Carlisle – which would create 15 jobs and have capacity for 600 people – have been unveiled.

Ben Read

Ben Read, from Big Al’s, and Glenn Mike, who created Outrageous, want to open Chezmoi in the former Social bar and Robertson’s bakery building on Lowther Street.

The club will be designed like a house.

Ben, 29, said: “From the outside the building looks like a house so we’ve decided to call it Chezmoi, which means ‘my house’ in French.”

Glenn, 40, said: “A lot of people now like to stay in these days so we’re themeing the bar like a house. Why not come and have a party in our house?

“It will have two floors of fun – a kitchen, lounge/dining room downstairs and bedrooms upstairs. It will be more than just a club.

“People will be able to hire the bedrooms for their own private parties.

“There will be different types of music – upstairs and downstairs – and during the week there will be a student house party.

“The stage will be shaped like a coffee table and there will be a TV behind the stage on the wall.”

Ben and Glenn hope the venue, which will have live music, could open as soon as next month.

Glenn said: “We want to host a big act once a month.

“It is not going to be the most trendy venue as homes get decorated all the time so will be adding to it and changing it. We might start out with a retro look and then change it.”

Ben, who once had plans to open a shots bar in Lowther Arcade, is planning to serve up personalised shots – of which 400 people have already requested drinks to be named after them.

It will also have a cocktail list and drinks provided by local supplier Classic Drinks.

Ten pence from every drink sold will be donated to charity and the first month’s chosen recipient will be The Olivia Story Trust. Glenn said: “We will be asking people to nominate charities and then we will have a panel of people to choose a different charity every month.”

Chezmoi will open from midday to 3am and will serve food and drinks during the day.

Ben and Glenn have applied for a drinks and entertainment licence for the venue which will be discussed by councillors later this month.

Work on the building is expected to start shortly.

PMcClounie@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 08:56, Saturday, 07 July 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk