A Bolton bar has partnered with a local gin company and shopping centre to open an all-new bar space which will give access to buskers to showcase their musical talents.

Bar Four in The Vaults has teamed up with the Market Place Shopping Centre, Bolton and have supplied a PA amplifying system for musicians to busk in a safe environment on their patio area.

The area next to the Market Place Shopping Centre has been turned into a music summer showcase, where there will be DJs, live music performers and more.

The music area launched on Friday August 18, and will continue into the weekend and moving forward through to September.

Paul Welch, owner of Bar Four, said: “We have decided to put on the busking Patio Bar events because we just want to bring things to Bolton town centre.

“We decided to do it because it is a really good idea to bring something different in Bolton for Bolton people.

“We have built a bar on the patio in conjunction with the Market Place, it is called The Patio Bar and it is full of kegs and beers and it will be open this weekend. It will also be open for the Bolton Food and Drink Festival.

“This weekend it is on Friday through to Sunday; Friday there will be DJs and a food van so people can enjoy the music and have a drink, on Saturday we have got all sorts of DJs, violinists, acoustic players and five or six buskers too.

“And the idea behind this is to give the opportunity to people who don’t get to play in bars and clubs to come out, do an hour's set and whatever the crowd donates, the busker gets to keep.

The Bolton News: The Patio BarThe Patio Bar (Image: Paul Welch)

“It is just something different on the patio because it is a gorgeous space which is not used so a few months ago we sat with Rachel from the Market Place and agreed that if we did this would they be interested? She said, 'that’s fantastic thank you so much for investing in it', so we came up with this idea and now we are working together.

“The Patio Bar really does look good, and fingers crossed it brings what doesn’t happen in Bolton, busking.

“It is a fully licensed area; it is safe with security all weekend and it is great music to give local people an opportunity to come and play.

“It officially launches this weekend and will also be on at the food festival and hopefully we can open every weekend then until the end of September and then we can run Christmas Markets on there as well.

“I feel excited about the launch, it is going to be great, and the response it has had so far, I think it is going to be a fantastic weekend.

“Music has always been something I love, and this is just trying to promote something different.

“We are doing this because the Market Place is a fantastic building so if we can give people an experience and bring people back into the town centre then the hope is they stay in Bolton and spend their money on the restaurants and shops and fingers crossed it helps local businesses.”

The events are brought to the town by Bolton Gin Company and Bar Four in association with The Market Place Patio Bar.

The events will see the area next to the Market Place Shopping Centre turn into a music summer showcase, there will be DJs, live music performers and more.

The Patio Bar is open 2pm to 9pm on Friday, 12pm to 9pm on Saturdays and open 12pm to 6pm on a Sunday.

The area will be open each weekend weather dependant, with socials updated each week.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @chloewjourno.