THE new owners of Flirt Cafe Bar are aiming to put the venue back at the heart of the community in The Triangle.

Brothers Ed and Rob Watts, who have taken over the popular Bournemouth destination, hope to open at the end of next week.

The pair, who have been running their own B&B in West Dorset for three and a half years have taken up the reins at Flirt, where they want to haul it back to its glory days.

Ed told the Echo: "Flirt was a bit of an institution back in the day

"It has had a few tough years, but we are hoping to bring the community back."

Taking time out of busy renovation works, which saw the cafe/bar close at the end of June, Ed said: "There were a lot of groups that used this place that we want to get back in.

"So any people who have used it before as a hire space in any way, please, please get in contact with us.

"We are going to be bringing back a load of events – quiz nights will be happening again.

"We've got a night coming up called 'Singalong with Show Tunes', a bit camp with a brilliant pianist.

"This is a safe space, it is open for everyone - it is going to be as camp as tits."

Flirt Cafe Bar, a popular venue credited with helping to transform Bournemouth’s Triangle, was bought from its founders by Shaan Hussain in 2017.

The assets of the business were then sold to Flirt Catering Limited, whose director was Stephen McManus, early in 2019.

Its new, independent owners Ed and Rob say they hope to open, subject to renovations being finished, on July 24.

You can keep up to date with progress on the venue's facebook page.

Ed and Rob said: "We just hope we can do Flirt justice to how it used to be, with our own take on it as well.

"It is going to be fun."