WITH a string of new businesses opening in Carlisle - the border city has potential to be a hub for hospitality and leisure - says mayor Mike Mitchelson
One of the most recent additions to the city is Popland, a retro-themed nightclub that joins Déjà Vu on Botchergate.
READ MORE: New Carlisle nightclub 'Popland' to open next month
Entering the restaurant scene from being just a takeaway is Let’s Greek on London Road, whose owner Panagiota Vrettou made the move as the extra space wasn’t being utilised.
The opening offers healthy competition to Carlisle's popular Greek restaurant Alexandros.
The well known eaterie is taking its first step into the holiday letting industry by announcing 'rooms to stay' for visitors.
READ MORE: Carlisle's Greek restaurant Alexandros announces new apartment venture
Tribe in Carlisle is another positive indicator of the hospitality boom.
Tribe serves as a pub, music and arts venue and eatery at the entrance of Bitts Park.
READ MORE: 'I'm proud to say I'm from Carlisle' - reaction to DJ night
It is a Carlisle City Council-funded site installed to cater for all people and has a younger clientele.
The new developments go some way to addressing complaints that the city is lagging behind in catering for younger people and students.
Mayor of Carlisle Mike Mitchelson believes the city is 'on the up'.
He said: “It’s great to see so many of these places opening, and for Carlisle’s long-term future I would like to see it become a hub for young people.
“With the university campus being built in the centre of Carlisle, that’s going to be great because more students will come.
“When you look at other cities that have universities near the city centre they have become very vibrant.
“With the developments, we hope to see Carlisle on the map as a university city.
“At the same time, I am also quite keen that we create an events space in the city centre so we can get more entertainment on the high street.”
High Street chains moving away from cities presents an opportunity for the hospitality sector to maintain footfall among families and students.
READ MORE: M&S moving away from high streets 'not surprising' says Chamber
Mr Mitchelson believes historic Carlisle is becoming a hub for leisure and hospitality.
He said: "I would hope that the city centre would be able to maintain its retail offerings."
"If you get more hospitality in the city centre it would attract more customers to these shops.”
Suzanne Caldwell, managing director at the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, concurred: “It’s great to see these sorts of developments happening in the city.
“They all add to its vibrancy and make it a more attractive place to visit and to spend time, not least for younger people, and it’s particularly important as our high streets change.”
Carlisle residents told the News & Star that the 'city needs livening up', another saying that the 'addition of more pubs and bars would be nice'.
Another resident said 'empty shops and quiet streets' are ‘depressing’ and ‘need filling’.
READ MORE: Chamber speaks on the importance of SMEs in the county
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