THE manager of a new town centre bar got on his bike to prove he had what it takes to do the job.

Neil Turner has been offered the role at the new Life Bar Caf on Nelson Square, which is set to open next Thursday (July 18), after working for Life owners, Luminar Leisure for a year.

Mr Turner secured the post following a 650-mile bike ride from Brighton to Newcastle, which he completed to help raise money for the NSPCC.

And for much of the journey, Neil was teamed up with Chris Teague, an area manager for Luminar Leisure's Emerging Businesses Division.

Neil, who lives in Warrington, and will commute to Bolton, said: "We got to know each other very well and when a position came up at Luminar, Chris offered it to me and I had no doubt about accepting."

Neil, aged 28, was a licensee of a Yates' Wine Bar at the age of 21 and has been responsible for the opening of four Orange Houses in Manchester, Oxford, Warrington and Hanley, as well as Life in Liverpool.

And he believes the people of Bolton will take to Life Caf Bar, which will be open seven days a week.

He said: "Life will offer people three different types of entertainment venue under one roof which I think will make it extremely popular.

"It will open as a caf bar from 11am every day, before transforming into a nightclub in the evening. I have seen how well that works in Liverpool and I believe it will do the same, if not better, here in Bolton."