The hospitality group behind major Belfast venues like The Dirty Onion bar and The Merchant Hotel is preparing to open a destination in Lisburn next month.

A £1 million transformation project is set to get underway to refurbish the former Wetherspoons in Lisburn Square into a new food and beverage venue.

The Beannchor Group will unveil its latest destination, The Lark, spanning two levels. Complete with a fully heated and covered outdoor area, the ground floor will be home to live music from popular musicians and offer patrons an extensive and creative drinks menu featuring craft beers and cocktails.

On the first floor, the space will become the Group's second 'Yardbird' restaurant – mirroring a similar set up to its Cathedral Quarter sister bar, The Dirty Onion. The 60-seater family-friendly dining venue will specialise in rotisserie chicken, ribs and wings.

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This is the third hospitality venue within Lisburn Square to be unveiled by Beannchor. Last year, the Group opened the doors to its £4m hotel, Haslem, after identifying a growing demand for high quality hospitality offerings in the city following the success of its Little Wing pizzeria restaurant, which opened at the Square in 2017.

LCCC's Chair of Development, Ald Amanda Grehan, said: "This exciting new development is a welcome addition to Lisburn Square. With many new businesses opening up here recently, Lisburn Square is becoming quite a cosmopolitan location for the retail and hospitality industry.

"Beannchor's decision to continue to invest here is further evidence of the advantages of setting up business in the Lisburn and Castlereagh area. This will no doubt encourage others to follow suit. I wish them every success with this new venture and look forward to visiting The Lark when it opens soon."

Commenting on the announcement, Conall Wolsey, Director at Beannchor added: "We're thrilled to be working with the development team at Lisburn Square again and bringing our expertise to transform the city's former Wetherspoons pub into a more modern establishment.

"Opening The Lark is a demonstration of the confidence we have in Lisburn and the increasing demand from locals who are searching for premium food, beverage and leisure experiences that match those of Belfast city.

"With this significant refurbishment, we hope the venue will appeal to a wider audience group than its predecessor and further boost the Square's day and night-time economy."