A FORMER Coronation Street barman is taking on the pub business for real and attracting some Weatherfield regulars away from the Rovers Return.

Nick Cochrane, who played Andy McDonald in the late '90s, has retired from acting and taken on a new role as advertising and marketing manager with Wish Inns.

And the 33-year-old is searching through his contacts book to help make the Swan with Two Necks, Market Street, Chorley, the premier venue in the area.

Already Beverley Callard, who played his on-screen mum Liz McDonald and who owns the White Horse pub in Eccles, has called in and Nick is hoping more will follow.

He said: "It was an opportunity that came up when I bumped into an old mate I hadn't seen for two or three years.

"We were talking about something completely different when he mentioned he had these pubs and asked if I'd be interested in helping out on the marketing side.

"I've been involved in pubs in the past and decided to give it a go. I'm just trying to get as many celebrities to Chorley as I can.

"With Beverley having her own pub she came down for us.

"Simon (Gregson aka Steve McDonald) will definitely be here and I'm looking to get a few of the cast from Hollyoaks to make an appearance.

"With their filming schedules and personal commitments it's difficult to tie them down to specific dates but it's fair to say there will be some famous faces appearing at the pub."

Nick, who is married with a five-year-old son Sam and 19-month-old daughter Lucia, joined the Street in December 1989 with schoolmate Simon Gregson to play twins Andy and Steve McDonald.

Although he was axed from the soap in 1997 Nick has made brief comebacks in 2000 and 2004.

But he said he is more than happy now to be away from the cameras.

"This is a lot more family friendly," he said. "I get a lot less earache from my wife because I can say I'm not going in today' whereas in the past that was impossible.

"I can go home and bath my kids and then if they need me in the pub I can put my kids to bed and then head down." He revealed the company, which also has two pubs in Bolton, has spent £120,000 renovating the pub, which opened in December, in a bid to return it to its former glory.

And he admitted it was a Rovers Return-style pub that locals would enjoy.

He said: "We gutted the place. It used to be the top venue in Chorley many moons ago and then it took a downturn. We're looking at getting its crown back.

"It's a friendly local pub like the Rovers. There's bouncing music at the weekend and we're planning to put on a live jazz band. And we've got a chef here who will be serving up some good pub grub."