New bar and bistro opens in Westhoughton

Absolute Bar & Bistro is a new addition to Market Street, it currently offers a range of teas and coffees during the day, turning into a bar in the evening.

After successful first week, having opened on August 20, it's set to expand its menu, serving up cakes for those who are after a light snack during the day, and a selection of tapas in the evening.

(Absolute Bar and Bistro)

Chef Gareth Mason is set to join the team at Absolute, so the food is set to be good.

The venue is run by Natalie O'Neill and her partner Joe Fairhurst, who both renovated the building putting their skills to use - Natalie is a painter and decorator while Joe is a builder.

Natalie said: "It was really stressful before we opened as neither of us have any experience operating a bar, on the first night I didn't have a clue how to pull a pint but by the end I was a professional.

"Before we opened we had people queuing up outside, it was great and everyone really enjoyed it.

(Absolute Bar and Bistro)

"We're starting off with drinks first, then we will bring in food and we've also got a top chef coming to work with us.

"I'm hoping later down the line we will be offering live entertainment too - at the moment I'm trying to find someone to do cocktail demonstrations.

"We had a very busy first week, it was exhausting but enjoyable.

"This is a bit of a passion project for us so we will keep our day jobs too.

"We designed everything ourselves and renovated the whole thing.

"It shares the same name as my partner's building firm, Absolute Finishes, so that's where the idea came from."