"I WAS driving along one day and thought 'I know what would be a good name for a bar — Propaganda'."

And so an idea was born, courtesy of joint owner Paul Aspin.

Last weekend, the Propaganda Bar and Kitchen opened in The Rock in Bury town centre and the early feedback has been all positive.

Paul, who has launched the venture with his father Philip and their business partner David Lewis, said: "We were attracted by the space, which used to be the Siberia nightclub (which closed in 2010).

"A lot of people have nostalgia and fond memories of going up the stairs at Siberia and they have got older since then and they are the kind of person we want to attract, and so far it has gone well."

After a soft launch last Thursday, the bar opened fully on Good Friday and gained favourable reviews on social media.

Sticking to the theme of the bar's name, the owners have decorated the venue with cleverly kitsch propaganda posters, and they have installed a lighting system that can change the mood from daytime dining to evening partying.

"We want to get away from the title of a 'nightclub'," said Paul. "The idea is to attract people for our food in the daytime as well as the evening," he added.

With ten years of experience of party planning for X Factor stars and Premier League footballers and bartending in Manchester and other areas, Paul said he wants to "plug the leak" of revellers heading from Bury into the city centre.

"People tend to have a couple of drinks in Bury, get the Metrolink into Manchester and stay out there. We want to encourage them to stay in Bury and not have to pay for the £20 taxi back home," said Paul.

The bar has some interesting attractions planned for the coming weeks, such as musicians performing in the early evenings and a rickshaw to take would-be customers along Silver Street to the venue's door.

Customer Andy McManus, aged 22, said: "I can honestly say I've had one of the best nights I've had in ages.

"The atmosphere is great and it's a great mix with the music and the saxaphone player."

A diner, David Forster, added: "The burgers are amazing and it's a great venue. It's a little bit of Manchester on your doorstep in Bury."