A new bar and restaurant in Carlisle is just weeks away from opening.

Final preparations are being made to the former Hourglass bar on Scotland Road, Stanwix.

Ilka Rhoades and Alex Murrell, who run The Thin White Duke on Devonshire Street in the city, are opening the new venture and have been working on the site for nine months.

Mr Rhoades said: "It should be open by the end of the month or the beginning of October."

The venue - which has not yet disclosed its new name - recently advertised for staff.

"It will employ between 10 and 15 people," said Mr Rhoades.

He added: "We are just trying to get everything finished off but I hope we will be open by the end of the month or beginning of October."

The Thin White Duke has been a popular name on Carlisle's drinking and dining scene since opening more than six years ago, with a busy crowd packing it out most lunchtimes and evenings.

The Hourglass - which sits in a prominent place on Stanwix Bank - will serve food of the same quality as The Thin White Duke.

The Hourglass opened in 2007.

The Thin White Duke opened in 2010 on the site of the former Glasshouse pub.

The bar, built on the site of an ancient monastery, has been a Carlisle watering-hole for more than 100 years.

On Warwick Road, work is continuing on the new Yellowjacket bar, scheduled to open soon.

It is named after a social wasp and will be run by Cameron and Gillian Ellis, who have The Lane bar on Long Lane in the city.

Work to transform the former Belted Burgers unit attached to the Halston Hotel, also on Warwick Road, is also ongoing.

It is going to become Penny Blue - a venue that will serve food and drink.