Weir owners plan new city centre bar

THE family behind a number of Hull's most popular nightspots are opening a new city centre bar.

The Goulbourne family own the well-known Weir Bar & Grill in Hessle and Koo Bar and Zest on Newland Avenue, west Hull.

Their company, The Weir Hessle Ltd, were unveiling a new up-market bar called Lick at the City Exchange on Alfred Gelder Street today.

Lick is aimed at the growing number of young professionals working in the centre of Hull.

Alfie Goulbourne, general manager of The Weir Hessle Ltd, hopes their new bar will lure in post-work drinkers.

He said: "No-body does drinks after work in Hull and we want to bring that culture back.

"We want to create a sexy, stylish and relaxing place driven towards ladies first.

"If we can get people to come in after work and feel comfortable and chill out for a couple of hours I think we can succeed."

He believes that more "sophisticated" drinking spots such as Lick will help re-invigorate Hull city centre's evening economy.

Mr Goulbourne said: "I find it shocking that the city centre isn't a desirable place to go, people finish work and get out of the city straight away.

"Quite a lot of people are trying to change that and make it affluent again and we're one of those groups."

The bar's target audience is the 25-plus age group.

Like the Weir Bar it hopes to offer a more grown-up drinking venue emulating London's many cocktail bars.

Mr Goulbourne believes that providing more up-market leisure spots in the city centre will help attract businesses to the area.

He said: "There's got to be an influx of nice restaurants and nice bars and we've got to get rid of those places that are associated with undesirable behaviour.

"When business are deciding where to base themselves they are going to weigh up the benefits of a certain area.

"If there are lots of good places for their staff to have a drink or a meal it will help."