Plans are afoot at a popular Prestwick bar as the owners attempt to keep the high street alive by improving their offering.

Management at The Red Lion in the town have adapted their business over the course of the last two years, responding to the impact of the pandemic.

They have created more outdoor seating spaces, utilised their car park as added venue space, and hosted quizzes among other things.

Now they are to take their adaptation to the next level, with the bar announcing that they are to close for a refurbishment of The Red Lion at the beginning of this year, as well as adding another venue to their business.

The business shared the news via Facebook.

A post on their page reads: “We’re really grateful to the way you all supported us in such a challenging year.

“Beach Huts, benches in car parks, frozen cocktails, live music, quizzes & most recently the fantastic Christmas spirit (despite a couple of Scrooges doing their best to ruin it) have been the highlights of our year.

“We’ve had many lows but none more so than the loss of our friend and colleague Richard who had been so instrumental in building the Red Lion back to its rightful spot as one of the best and busiest bars in Ayrshire. We’ll never forget him.

“It’s a bit of a myth that Prestwick is “jumping all the time” as is highlighted by the fact we’ll have two empty bars on the street by the end of next week. So we are extremely grateful that so many of you choose us.

“We’re going to be opening a new chapter in The Red Lions history books by giving the place a refurbishment at the start of the year.

“ [We] can’t wait for you all to see the new scheme.

“We’re opening one of Prestwick’s empty bars back up.

“Look out for something new and exciting hitting Prestwick at the end of January.”

The Advertiser contacted the team at The Red Lion to ask them more about their plans but had not received a response by the time we went to print.

Whilst it is not known what venue they plan to open, there is one candidate that screams out.

Back in November, we reported how The Eagle Tavern, just two doors down from The Red Lion at The Cross became available after the management decided to cease operations.

The venue shut after falling attendances owing to the pandemic and what some described as ‘a lack of support.’ Many were upset at the closure.