Wine bar for Fylde rugby star

A Fylde hotel business run by a popular local rugby player has expanded with the opening of a coffee and wine bar.

The Carlton, South Promenade, St Annes, is owned and operated by the Banks family, including Roger Banks, a former club skipper and current forward with Fylde Rugby Club.

The Carlton has been owned by the family – including mother Johanna – since 1996, and boasts 15 en-suite bedrooms.

Now hotelier Roger has overseen a refurbishment which has transformed an existing bar and sunlounge which catered for residents, to Banksy’s Coffee Bar, a fully licensed venue open to all. Roger has now signed up Carlsberg lager and Illy coffee as suppliers.

Roger has also brought in Andrew McConville, a hospitality professional with more than 10 years’ experience managing bars and restaurants in Manchester, as bar and functions manager to oversee the day-to-day operation of the new facility.

Roger, who has made 197 first team appearances for Fylde, and represented Lancashire on several occasions, said: “For years we have catered only for residents at the hotel, but with the new coffee bar we are throwing our doors open to the public, extended our opening hours, and making the venue available for functions.

“The new license has meant we can serve alcohol and other refreshments to non-residents, and this is set to mark a significant change in the business.” The family was advised on the venue’s licensing by Malcolm Ireland, head of leisure and licensing at Napthens solicitors.