New cocktail bar The Smugglers Cove to open in Maryport this weekend

Maryport-born property investor Scott Lyon will open The Smugglers Cove on Senhouse Street in Maryport this weekend, with the new cocktail bar set to provide 'quality cocktails, wines and spirits' to punters in the town.

The 37-year-old decided to open the bar after 'having an idea' when he bought the building over three years ago.

Scott said: "I don't know where I got the idea from, it was just a random idea, and then once the tenant left I got the opportunity just to go ahead and do that."

The shop has previously been an art gallery and latterly a dog training business owned by Scott's wife Lucy, who closed the shop when she became pregnant in late 2023.

Some of the cocktails on offer at The Smugglers Cove (Image: Supplied) Speaking about the opening of the new venue, Scott said: "People seem to be happy and everybody that I have spoken to seems as if they want to support it, which is absolutely fantastic.

"It's going to be table service only, but we won't be doing any table bookings, we just want a chilled vibe, somewhere that is nice to go to, maybe eventually do food, some kind of tapas, but right now its all about the cocktails, the wines and the spirits."

Scott was given a grant from the council to do some works to the property, saying: "I was able to tap into that regeneration scheme, and I think because that has been pushed as well, and with things like the Carlton opening and the Captain Nelson opening back up as well along with the Sailors Return.

"Pubs like that being done up and made to look nice, that's what is going to help me as well."

Scott has been working on the bar for the last year. (Image: Supplied) Scott also cited cocktail bar Antonio's opening back up in the town, saying: "Hopefully if we can get one or two more, we can get a circuit going, that would be great."

A soft opening of the bar was held last Saturday, July 5 with The Smugglers Cove officially reopening to the public from 12.30pm this Saturday, July 12.

To find out more about The Smugglers Cove you can visit their Facebook page.