Concerns over Dorchester premises to be silenced with opening of The Eclipse bar (From Dorset Echo)

Concerns over Dorchester premises to be silenced with opening of The Eclipse bar

11:00am Thursday 21st February 2013 in News By Samantha Harman

CONCERNS over an empty Dorchester premises will be eclipsed when a new bar opens on Friday.

The Eclipse bar will open in Trinity Street in the spot formally occupied by The Apple Tree, which was repossessed by the landlord after a dispute over rent in December.

Time was called on the Trinity Street bar which has had several names and incarnations in its time, including Bojangles and Bar Rouge.

The Eclipse owner Ellen Keenan, who has experience in running bars, said she and partner Mark are looking forward to a new era.

Her daughter will manage the bar which will have a restaurant area upstairs and live music or a DJ every Friday and Saturday night. She said: “We’re looking forward to opening night.

“It still looks a bit like a building site at the moment but it should all be ready for Friday.

“We seem to have had quite a bit of excitement on Facebook with a lot of people saying they’re coming along.

“Hopefully as many people as possible will come and support us.”

Dorchester BID chairman Peter Legg said he was pleased to see a new venture open in the town and welcomed the team to the area.

He said: “This is another boost to Dorchester’s economy and the nighttime economy and I am pleased that we have got another business that’s decided to come here.

“Dorchester was obviously an attractive place to open and there’s no doubt the BID is helping with that.

“Any business that decides to come here has got to be good for the town and the BID will look forward to working with them when it gets voted for in June.”

The bar is looking for a band to help on opening night after booked entertainment cancelled. For more information, call 01305 266565.

• You can find and ‘like’ The Eclipse on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/ the-eclipse