TWO former staff members are the new owners of a town centre bar.

Daniele and Myles Rogerson, who are husband and wife, both used to work in Rioja in Ulverston under the previous owners. They took over the New Market Street venue after they were given first refusal - and have rebranded it as Ignition.

The bar will be reopening on Friday, March 31 at 3pm.

Myles will be continuing his role as the DJ and Daniele will work as the full manager. 

The interior layout of the bar has not changed much since it was Rioja as the venue has to fit around the historic building which was originally a bank. 

However there will be new fixtures and fittings. The bar will also be bringing back activities that proved popular in the pandemic such as Loco Bingo from Saturday, April 8. 

READ MORE: Rioja bar in Ulverston becomes Ignition and will open soon

There will also be quiz nights and karaoke nights. Daniele said that this is to appeal to an older crowd than what Rioja brought in. 

Daniele said: "It is getting there. Me and Myles have worked here before. Myles has worked here four years and I have worked here for a couple. We left last year and they (the old owners) said we have had enough we will give you first refusal.

"We are excited - a lot of new staff, new cocktail menu. We are going back to doing bingo. We just need a bit of time to run the place - hopefully it will come through." 

Daniele said the cocktail menu would be reduced so that it would be easier to make better quality cocktails and the mixologist who is creating the menu and training the staff is her nephew. 

"We have already had people enquiring for Christmas party bookings," she said.

"We have initially signed a contract for five years.

"We have put fourteen cocktails on the menu. We have bought a slush machine. We are going to have a lot of specials on."

The Rogersons have employed ten staff and will also need more to cover weekends and bank holidays.