A CONVENIENCE store will open on the site of a well known former pub this week.

The old Rocket pub, in Breightmet, has been transformed into a Spar and will open its doors to the community on Thursday afternoon.

The venue, in New Lane, was pulled down and the new store built where it once stood, after the site was sold by the Marston’s brewery in 2015.

Baz Jethwa, the store’s owner, is looking forward to opening the shop, which has created 20 jobs.

He said: “The old pub has been completely rebuilt and kitted out inside.

“We wanted to expand our business and to help create more jobs in the area.

“This site needed someone to come in and do some work on it, and this was a great opportunity for us.

“We have had a lot of positive feedback from the local community, particularly because the jobs boost is going to be a really good thing for people here.

“When we put our job adverts up, we had more than 1,000 applicants within the space of just a couple of days.”

Many residents were disappointed by the demolition of the pub, which it is thought opened in 1963.

However, the venue did have a history of anti-social behaviour — including an incident in December 2014 when a man was attacked with a bottle in the pub’s toilets.

Before councillors approved plans to knock down the pub in 2015, several neighbours made representations to try and keep it in use, citing it as a good community asset.

Mr Jethwa, an award-winning retailer, is opening his third shop in Bolton, but switching from the Costcutter brand to Spar.

Both of Mr Jethwa’s other stores, which are in Farnworth, have gained national recognition for their success over recent years.

Costcutter in Plodder Lane won the title of Most Improved Store at the Retail Industry Awards in 2016, while Costcutter Campbell Street won Independent Retailer of the Year in 2015 for stores between 1,000 and 3,000sq ft.

Both of the Farnworth stores, which have been the target of robberies, will be rebranded as Spars in the coming months.

He added: “We are very excited about the new store opening.

“The site looks completely different to how it was when we took it over in 2015 and it will be great to finally open the doors and welcome people in.”

The store’s grand opening is at 3pm on Thursday, and the first 50 customers through the door will receive a free chicken.

There will also be free tastings from the store’s deli available, as well as drinks from Costa Coffee, and goody bags.