A BOLTON bar is pulling out all the stops to celebrate its birthday in the town.

The Venue Bar will turn three-years-old with the help of a nine-piece Big Band on Friday.

Organisers hope the event will not only mark the bar’s success but also celebrate the growing popularity of its home in Churchgate.

Owner John Wray said: “It is a nice event to celebrate because when we moved into the property it had been empty for four years.

“Most of Churchgate House was empty, Capital opposite went out of business not long after we took over, the Brass Cat kept opening and closing.

“The street itself was just not doing great.

“I’m proud to have seen a sort of regeneration of Churchgate and the bar does feel like a bit of a catalyst for that because we invested in the area very early

on.”

Venue, which was launched by Mr Wray and Dave Holmes, took over the building which was once home to Kiss nightclub and the Brasshouse.

It has grown a big reputation as the over-25s venue for revellers, featuring live music each week as well as being a home to big Bolton Pride events since its launch.

Following the birthday bash there are also plans to open a Motown cafe on site.

But first, to mark the third anniversary Venue will welcome one of the top exponents of Big Band soul music to the town centre.

On September 1 STAX of SOUL will take to its stage with its nine-piece band.

Mr Wray added: “We are very excited to celebrate our third anniversary of bringing live entertainment to Bolton town centre with such a top iconic band.

“They bring their own unique brand of soul music to the stage.

“Loyal partygoers still continue to follow them from one public show to the next.

“They arrive in Bolton with a reputation that needs no introduction. They are and remain the UK’s genuine STAX of SOUL, the original nine piece function and party band born and bred in Manchester back in 1983. They are ‘the real

deal’.”

The evening is part of a series of ticketed events at the Venue Bar which saw the top Northern soul band the Signatures perform earlier this year.

Early bird tickets for STAX of SOUL are available on Eventbrite or at the bar at £8 and £10 on the door.