American-themed Buzzby's coming to St Helens announces opening date

The Star recently reported that the former Punch Tarmey's venue on Westfield Street, which had a brief spell as Kingdom last year, is be given a new lease of life as Buzzby's.

Owner Andrew Mikhail, who has various venues across Liverpool, St Helens and Southport, is planning to create an American-themed "dive bar", an old-style drinking establishment with relatively inexpensive drinks, pool, darts and TV screens.

It will aim to mirror the success of Mikhail Hotel & Leisure group's Top Gun-themed Mavericks bar in Southport.

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Its name also provides a link through its name to a St Helens venue of yesteryear.

Pub bosses say it will be called 'Buzzbys' in a nod to the former Buzby's bar from Bridge Street, St Helens, which ran through the 1990s and 2000s.

There will be a twist to the new bar too, with the first floor set to include four lanes of interactive darts.

Mr Mikhail said: "We have a sister bar in Southport called 'Mavericks' - same prices and style of bar which is proving to be highly successful.

"St Helens already has a proud selection of superstar players in the PDC and massive darts community so we’re expecting it to do well.

"There will also be two pool tables in the venue.

"We will be showing all horse racing, live music & entertainment and Sky Sports with all the football, rugby and sporting events shown."

The Westfield Street venue in its Punch Tarmey's days (Image: .)

The premises had been rented to tenants in recent years - opening as Circus and latterly Kingdom - and then listed for sale earlier this year, but after the success of Mavericks in Southport, the owners hope launching a sister bar will be a success.

Live music and ticketed events are expected to be staged there, with social media accounts due to launch soon to promote them.

One of the key aims of the venue will be to keep prices low, with the cost of a pint starting from £1.99, shorts from £2.50 and cocktails from £6.  There will also be a choice of cask ales from £2.50.

Mr Mikhail says an experienced manager has been appointed to take on running the bar.

Buzzby's has today confirmed its opening date, which has been confirmed for Friday, October 4 at 5pm.

The opening will aim to add renewed impetus to St Helens' nightlife scene, which has struggled to bounce back from the Covid pandemic.

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of St Helens. Please get in touch at simon.mulligan@newsquest.co.uk