THE owner of a sports bar which is set to open in Barrhead is hoping his new business will help tackle anti-social behaviour in the area.
Lochy’s Pool & Sports Bar will take over the former Dalearn House on Main Street after the council granted planning permission for the venue in March.
The venue will feature a function suite, a large sports bar and a leisure area with pool tables and dart lanes.
Jamie Kerrigan, 26, from Neilston is the man behind the bar, along with his partner Suzanne Rae.
He said: “I just think there’s a big demand for it. I think the Barrhead Main Street alone is just crying out for redevelopment.
“It’s obviously been in a state of disrepair for quite a while, it needs more footfall into the area.”
By opening the new leisure facility in the town, Jamie's business will be creating several jobs for the area.
He said: “Initially, we’re hoping to create around 20 jobs, which we’d hope to employ directly from the community rather than further afield.”
However, it’s not only creating jobs that the Neilston man aims to do, but he also hopes to combat anti-social behaviour in the area by setting up a youth academy.
Jamie said: “For the last 10 to 15 years I’ve been involved in Thai boxing.
“I’m involved in a community Thai boxing club that runs out of the Barrhead Foundry with a good friend of mine.
“A big part of that is getting young guys off the street, getting them fit and healthy, and giving them a focus.
“From me being there, we see all the trouble that happens outside the foundry and at Asda too. We see it every day."
He continued to say: “Since we took on the unit, we’ve already had a break-in from a gang of youths and they caused tens of thousands of pounds of damage within the above units.
“We just couldn’t witness it anymore and sometimes, as bad as it is to say, not that I don’t blame them and it’s not appropriate what they’re doing, but there’s nothing for them to do within the community.”
Jamie revealed that youngsters also flooded a nearby business due to damage they caused.
To help prevent similar incidents, the 26-year-old hopes the sports bar will give youngsters a “bit of stability”.
Jamie also aims to create a partnership with local community cops so young people can build better relationships with them.
A strong believer that the venue would reduce anti-social behaviour in the town, he said: “If we can give people somewhere to go on the street, where they’re going to feel welcome and have someone to chat to, then I think it could be the right thing.”
The pool hall will see £200,000 to £250,000 invested into the venue.
The plans, which were approved earlier this year, showed it would include 10 pool tables, one competition room, and a private table.
It would also feature a main function suite room, a sports bar, and four dartboards.
Jamie has previously worked in hospitality, and he currently owns Love2Tan in Barrhead and Prestwick along with his partner.
The opening date for Lochy’s is yet to be confirmed.
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