Blackburn town centre has another new pub. Andy and Karen Joss have opened up the Rock Box on King William Street.
Andy’s first foray into the pub trade was nearly a decade ago. His local, the Lion Hotel on Wensley Road, found itself without a landlord. No temporary manager was available at that time, so he stepped into the breach and kept his local open until a new licensee was found. Andy subsequently had spells running the Stop and Rest up Brandy House Brow and the Moorgate Arms on Livesey Branch Road.
This micro pub used to be cocktail bar, Tiki Monkey, conveniently located straight across from our old town hall and next door to the Drummer’s Arms. It is a cosy setting with dimmed light and intimate without being claustrophobic. This helps create a perfect atmosphere for watching classic rock and blues music on their big screens. Real ale is also on sale in the Rock Box. Their opening cask was appropriately Blackburn’s own Three B’s beer and they had two of this local brewery’s ales available when the pub made its debut in early December. Other local real ales are also regularly on sale.
Andy says he wants to help improve Blackburn’s town centre pub culture. The Napier has proved there is a demand for rock music in town. This pub mainly attracts a younger clientele, whereas Andy saw a niche market and his pub focusses on Classic Rock and Blues. Andy enjoys working in the pub trade and hopes to carry on this for as long as he can. He would also like to register his appreciation of the help and support he has received from next door neighbours James and Katy Quayle in the Drummer’s Arms and the team from Shh Bar on Northgate.
The Rock Box is another piece in a jigsaw expanding the north side of Blackburn town centre’s pub availability. Its opening is a very welcome addition to this area, giving even more choice for punters. Interestingly, apart from Livesey Branch Road, King William Street is now the only road in Blackburn where three seven day a week pubs can be found open.
Andy and Karen have put a lot of time, effort and their own money into opening the Rock Box. Let’s hope this good work continues and it leads to even more pubs opening up in our town centre in the future.
