THE former home of Chicago Rock is on the verge of reopening.

Business partners Andy Watt and Chris Dickinson have taken on the site and plan to reopen the nightclub, sports bar and restaurant as The Mix Bar.

But the pair are not stopping there - they will also open the upstairs of the building on the corner of Barbauld Street and St Austins Lane, as a business hub during the day and add a Mr Smith's themed cocktail bar.

Andy said: "Me and my business partner Chris are both from Warrington and we just missed Chicago Rock and got fed up of waiting for it to reopen.

"We were both made redundant before Christmas so we came and had a look around and a few months later here we are.

"We are both passionate about Warrington as we have both lived here all our lives and we have both worked in business."

Chicago Rock closed its doors in May 2013 when its owners, Atmosphere Bars and Clubs, went into administration.

The cocktail bar will feature a mural of Mr Smith's painted by an artist and themed cocktails named after things associated with infamous nightclub such as The Hit Man and Stan the Man.

But the pair also want to use the bar for good and raise awareness and money for charities by holding special nights for them.

"The business hub will be for people who work from home or for meetings and we will also offer social media training," Andy, a former business bank manager, said.

"We want to get involved with charities and hold nights for them quarterly to try and help raise money and awareness."

They are hoping to open the venue on July 15 depending on whether an current application for a licence is approved and Mr Smiths legend Stan the Man will be on hand to unveil the new mural when it is ready.