Bar gets total smoke ban

A dedicated smoking shelter has been put outside Bank, in Wolverhampton Road, to ensure smokers still have somewhere to go when visiting the bar.

Customers are remind-ed of the rules by door staff when they enter the trendy bar and it has proved a success in the venue's first week of trading.

Boss Alastair Payne said the shelter had already attracted a good response from customers.

He said: "It is partly because of the smoking ban due to come into force next year but also because that's just the way things are going generally nowadays.

"We have had very positive comments about it and it seems to be what people want these days. There have been no complaints, if people are about to light up they are reminded to go outside and have been fine about it."

Bank opened last week and the building was formerly a Lloyds TSB bank.

Work on converting it was finished at the last minute after workers grafted through the night to ensure things were in place for the grand opening.

It was designed by an award-winning Lichfield-based designer who was responsible for a Ministry of Sound bar in Harrogate that has attracted rave reviews from clubbers.

GMP Design Associates, which has been based in Lichfield for 20 years, picked up UK's most prestigious nightclub and bar interior design award for its stunning design of the Harrogate late-night venue.

Alastair is hoping the team will bring the same magic to his bar, which has a licence until 2am.

The former Lloyds TSB building on the corner of Wolverhampton Road and Backcrofts has stood empty for some time.

By Michelle Pearson