THE doors of a Shakespeare-inspired micropub are set to open today, Valentine’s Day.

The Bard, on High Street, Prescot, will open tonight, Wednesday, February 14 for a ‘Shakespeare in Love’ themed launch.

The venue is a lifelong dream come true for husband and wife team John and Julie Marsden, who are owners of The Melwood Beer Company, based on the nearby Lord Derby Estate.

The transformation of the building has been carried out by St Helens-based design team Retro Chimps.

Julie 50, said: “This has been a dream for a really long time now and we are finally making it a reality.

“It’s great for our micropub to tie in with the Shakespeare North Playhouse (which is due to open by 2020.

“We hope that people will turn out to support us and meet others here to enjoy a good beer and spirits that cannot be found elsewhere in Prescot.

“We think it’s a natural progression for us to move here and really want to focus and support on the regeneration of the area.”

The Bard will have a limited capacity of between 40 to 50 people.

There will also be no TV, gaming machines or amplified music at the venue.

It will be open Monday to Friday from 4pm to 10pm and Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays from noon to 10pm.