TWO musicians have found success running a cocktail and craft beer bar in their town.

Best-friends Chris Barnes and Ben Palmer opened Saucebox in Clitheroe in October and since then have been operating as a takeaway where customers can buy craft beer.

Saucebox currently stock all kinds of craft beers and sell milkshakes made with Northern Bloc ice cream alongside tea, coffees and hot chocolates.

Both 43-year-old Mr Barnes and 38-year-old Mr Palmer have travelled the world in a variety of bands, they ended as neighbours when they relocated from Salford and Leeds.

Mr Barnes said: “We were neighbours, so we used to have conversations in the back garden.

“My wife came up with the idea, saying wouldn’t it be a good if someone opened a craft beer shop and a bar here?

“Obviously with lockdown it’s been hard, so we had to adapt.”

With Mr Palmer’s 20 years of experience running bars in Leeds and Clitheroe when he moved, he has become a famous face in the town, with people recognising him as they walk into the Saucebox.

He said: “I’ve won awards even nationally for my cocktail making.

“I started managing bars when I was 18, so when I joined Chris, it was just working with my best friend and business partner.

“Although, because we have been closed for so long, we really miss each other.”

Mr Barnes said: “A lot of people will come in and recognise Ben and say nobody makes cocktails like him.

“I was speaking to Ben and his wife and they had a lot of knowledge between them in the industry and it’s been a good collaboration.”

The duo has over 1,000 followers on Instagram and credit social media for their popularity throughout the pandemic since opening.

Mr Barnes said: “What you see is what you get, we have just have a cool and relaxed vibe that people love.

“People used to come in when we could operate as a shop and take pictures of cool beers and Instagram it, so then others would come in and say they wanted to try something they saw on Instagram.

“The power of social media has just been huge.”

The friends also bring their love of music to the bar, with Chris a vocalist for The Australian Pink Floyd Show since six years ago.

While in lockdown he has worked alongside bandmates Dave Fowler and Ricky Howard to create the band Space Potatoes and the documentary series 2020 Rendezvous on YouTube, a comedy drama highlighting the plight of musicians and crew members currently off the road with no support.