One of Whitehaven’s popular cocktail bars is being rebranded after a change in management.
La Venue, situated on Lowther Street, is reopening next week on Friday June 30 as The Pour House, offering tapas and cocktails.
New owners Robert Macmillan, 21, and Luke Johnston, 25, both from Moresby, are taking on the new venture after it was put up for sale.
Luke said: “Me and my partner Robert have always wanted to run our own bar. This opportunity came along that La Venue was going to be going up for sale and we looked into it and what we could do with it and it just went from there really.
“Robert’s family run quite a few successful bars in Whitehaven and we’ve both been involved in them and he’s also done European Bartender School, so he’s been developing the cocktail menu with that experience and his experience running his parents pubs as well.”
While the duo are planning to make some small changes to the building’s interior – to make it their own, the main change is in the night spot’s renaming.
He added: “We’re making some small improvements inside, but it hasn’t long been renovated so we’re going to get open and see how it goes with a view to renovate more further down the line.
“The biggest change we’re making is the rebranding of the name and we’re also bringing food back as there hasn’t been food served there for two years.
“Robert is the creative one, I would say he’s definitely led the process and he’s done all the design work and everything to do with that because he’s really good at it. I’ve also assisted as I have my own design agency as well where I do things like web design and marketing.
“Robert also thought up the name, I couldn’t tell you how, but it just stuck. Some people think it’s great, some people not so great, but you’re not going to please everyone 100 per cent of the time.
“The rebranding itself involves us getting everything changed, so anything that says La Venue has to be replaced. We’ve put an action plan in place to change all that.”
On top of the tapas menu that will offer Spanish and English dishes – the duo are also planning to offer Sunday lunches and the drinks menu is set to offer 20 options of cocktails.
Luke said: “We’ve got a few new drinks and we’re bringing with us a popular drink that Robert has created in another pub. We’ll be keeping La Venue’s firm favourites, but they might be slightly changed with our way of doing things.
“There will be something for everyone. We want it to have a chilled, laid-back vibe and we want people to come in and be able to wind down and find the place relaxing after a difficult week.
“Eventually we are going to do bottomless brunches and bits and bobs like that, but we’re starting with the tapas. Our new chef Ryan Oloughlin is great, he’s helped us develop the menu and put it into something we can really deliver.”
Table bookings for the new venue have officially opened and La Venue’s former signage is set to be replaced on Saturday night.
He added: “Bookings are going really good so far, we’re actually nearly booked up. It’s very exciting, I suppose we’re like kids at Christmas really waiting for it to open. We’ve got a love for Whitehaven and we’re looking forward to opening.”
Updates on the menu and opening progress are being shared to La Venue’s Instagram and Facebook pages, which will be renamed on Saturday night.
