BUSINESS is booming and 20 new jobs have been created at a new £200,000 Greenock pub.

Cheers Bar, formerly Legends, opened to the public last week with the grand opening of upstairs function room – Live at The Loft – took place last week.

The former run-down pub was rescued by Greenock businessman Ian Ellis when he bought it for £31,000 at auction in July.

A further £200k has been invested – double the initial estimate – to completely transform the premises, which also includes a new beer garden and a smokers’ terrace on the ground floor and upstairs.

Twenty jobs have also been created.

Mr Ellis said: “Everybody is loving it. It’s been busy every day and night.”

Earlier this month the Tele revealed how the bar had been granted a 2am alcohol licence from Thursday to Saturday and 1am on Sundays despite objections from Police Scotland.

Licensing officials also gave the go-ahead to increase the capacity from 60 to just under 300.