A new craft ale bar has opened inside an iconic former restaurant on the Prom to a hugely positive response from locals and visitors alike.
Steven Shepherd and Jennie Chapman opened the Tide and Tap at the former Blue Mountain on Marine Road East on Saturday afternoon.
Steven and Jennie said they'd had an incredibly busy first few days with "fantastic" support from customers who came through the doors.
"It's been manic, absolutely brilliant, people queuing out of the door," said Steven.
"The support we've had locally has been unbelievable.
"Standing behind this bar is a dream come true."
LISTEN to our interview with Jennie and Steven
Steven, who is originally from Lincoln, has lived in Morecambe for 15 years.
Jennie, who moved to Morecambe as a little girl, previously worked as a university lecturer.
She also has done bar work, including at the Little Bare on Princes Crescent in Bare, where she met Steven as the pub was his local.
"We chatted about, maybe one day we could have somewhere like this," said Jennie.
"And this opportunity arose, we got the keys about eight weeks ago, and we've worked flat out.
"I want to give a shout out to my dad Ian Chapman. Without him, none of this would have been possible. He has been our greatest supporter and we can't thank him enough."
Below, the new Tide and Tap
The Blue Mountain closed in August 2024.
Once Jennie and Steven took over, they gave the premises a complete overhaul.
"We emptied the place, stripped the floors down, varnished the floors, bought new furniture, rebuilt the bar...there's been a whole variety of things that needed doing," said Steven.
"We've had to put some love and warmth back into it, to bring that community feel that we envisage this place having."
The Tide and Tap will specialise in a range of craft beers, as well as wines, spirits and soft drinks.
Steven and Jennie also plan to introduce pie and mash, and hot drinks and cake during the day.
The Blue Mountain restaurant's best-known owners were Allan and Krissy Kent, who ran it from 1992 to 2015. The Kent family still owns the building.
As a tribute to Allan, who died in 2020, Jennie and Steven have put a plaque on the back of one of the Tide and Tap's chairs in his memory.
Some of the Kent family also visited the bar over the weekend.
"They've been wonderful," said Jennie.
"The Blue Mountain was such a local institution. So many people have such fond memories of it. We want to pick up the baton, make it our own but have it as testament to what they did."
Read more: New craft beer pub set to open at former home of Morecambe restaurant - Beyond Radio
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