A couple quit their respective careers in nursing and construction to open a bar following an off-hand comment at a house party.
Ed Kelly, a former psychiatric nurse, and partner Keith Prothero, who was formerly a builder, now run The Vale Bar on Walton Vale.
Ed told the ECHO how the idea was conjured up and said: "We'd throw parties and people never wanted to go home. One night one of our friends said 'you should open a bar' and Keith said 'OK'."
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He added: "When we got up the next day, he told me he was serious. We'd never done anything like that before in our lives, but six years ago we quit our jobs and did it."
The Vale Bar recently celebrated its anniversary. It was the first venue of its kind to open on Walton Vale, which has been a fixture in families in L9 for generations and has a handful of pubs that have been operating for decades.
The Vale Bar offered a breath of fresh air with an eclectic and decadent décor that makes customers feel like they're in their own home. It's a compact space, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in personality with its larger than life interior.
The venue's popularity has also helped pave the way for other newcomers such as Tiny Tavern and The Cove Bar, which, alongside a handful of local restaurants, have collectively helped revive the Vale's nightlife.
Ed said: "We have regulars now and they're in all the time. They like the Vale Bar for the staff and the atmosphere - they say it's like sitting in their own living room. It's so small, so everyone has to talk to each other."
As well as the bar itself, The Vale Bar now boasts a beer garden to the rear and Mo's Bistro on the floor above, which Ed said has "really taken off".
The restaurant is named after Keith's late mum Maureen and serves a simple menu, as well as roast dinners on a Sunday. The space also hosts private parties, such as baby showers, and bottomless brunches.
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