A FORMER pub, which closed earlier this year, is throwing its doors open again as a private members’ pool club for Carlisle.

Now called The Cue Rack and run by city couple Andy and Jenna Bell, the venue on Boundary Road, Currock will open for the first time on Friday.

The husband and wife team have been assisted in their preparations by four-times world champion pool player Ross McInnes, who has put the weight of his credentials in the world of pool behind the couple.

“Ross is probably the biggest name in pool,” Andy said.

Racing to put all the finishing touches in place before the official opening event, Andy explained he has had few opportunities in recent weeks to spend much time with his two children - Mairead, seven, and Lily, three.

“Even if I have to sleep here, my wife has said to me at this point, just do what you’ve got to do,” Andy said.

Andy explained that this Friday will be the realisation of his long-held dream.

“I’ve been searching probably for the last five or six years for somewhere to open a pool club,” he said.

Andy’s vision for the members-only club is for it to be as much a community asset as a pool club - somewhere Currock residents can depend on for a quiet drink.

“I live at Morton. My pub which was the Terrier, that’s a housing estate now. We miss that pub,” Andy said.

“I want to just try and make it a nice friendly pub. I think the community deserves a decent place for a a change.

“There’s a really nice estate right next to it, and I’ve had a lot of good feedback coming from them, they’ve told me they’d love somewhere to pop in just for a glass of wine or a pint of lager.

“I didn’t really realise how much a local pub means to people until recently.

“I’m getting a lot of feedback from people on social media and from people coming to the door saying ‘I can’t wait to come in and see what it’s like’.”

Andy, a pool and snooker player from the age of nine, is planning to host competitive pool events at The Cue Rack.

“I’ve got a lot of big competitions coming up,” Andy hinted.