The Balloon Bar in Northampton town centre is expecting a busy night tonight when it opens its doors for the first time since it was gutted by a fire.
Both the Balloon Bar and Fat Cat Cafe Bar, which share the former Angel Hotel building in Bridge Street, have been closesd since a fire on January 2 2012.
Fat Cats has since been forced to close permanently but, after renovation work, Balloon Bar will reopen at 9pm this evening.
Manager Elliott Holmes said: “I’m a bit nervous but really excited to welcome our customers back.
“We’ve got an extra bar in now plus a bigger courtyard that used to be used by Fat Cats.”
The safety hoarding remains in place at the front of the building, but partygoers can enter Balloon Bar from Angel Street.
People can get to Angel Street either from Guildhall Road or from Bridge Street, using an access point opened today for the occasion.