THE FIRST of four venues in a £1.2million project designed to boost nightlife in Bradford's West End is set to open its doors to the public tonight.

Tiki-O Bradford, a Polynesian-style party bar, is said to be the "zaniest" of the new ventures in the old Windsor Baths building on Randell Well Street.

Another of the venues, the Bavarian-themed Stein Bierkeller, is also hosting a VIP preview tonight, ahead of its official opening on Saturday.

Between them, the ventures have brought 80 new jobs to the city, both full and part-time.

A spokesman for the new Tiki-O venue said: "Tiki-O is a frivolous Polynesian-inspired party venue with full Tiki décor, complete with Tiki heads, Tiki huts, and lots of authentic bamboo.

"The experience revolves around Tiki-inspired cocktails, and fire, dry ice, and theatre from the craziest bar tenders in the North."

Cocktail bartenders will be recreating the original Zombie cocktails from the 1934 recipe used by Donn Beach, alias Ernest Gantt, the founder of Donn the Beachcomber bars, which were the forerunner of the Tiki venues.

There is a Tiki-O bar established in Newcastle, but the Bradford venue is said to be a first for Yorkshire.

The new bar's directors, Nigel Holliday and Aaron Mellor, added: "We’re delighted to be bringing the fun, exotic, concept of Tiki-O to Bradford at a time when the city is really getting its mojo back.

"We’ll be putting on something for everyone this opening bank holiday weekend.

"Our cocktail team take the cocktail that launched a thousand Tiki bars very seriously.

"After some intense research they are proud to offer the original lost recipe right down to the early brands and the secret ingredients of Donn’s Mix.

"Anyone who wants to experience what the original Zombie cocktail tasted like can come down and order one right here in Bradford and find out.

"We feel certain the people of Bradford will literally get into the spirit of it all and enjoy all the great atmosphere the venue has to offer.

"We’d also like to thank Bradford Council for their support in helping us to make this major refurbishment happen through their City Centre Growth Zone scheme."

David Robertson-Brown of Glyde House, who has also been working to promote the Growth Zone for the Council, said: "We’ve felt somewhat isolated since we opened at this end of town, so we are really excited to see that the West End revival is now fully underway with the opening of the first of the new venues.

"The concepts are new to Bradford and will attract many more people back into this part of the city centre.

"We're thrilled to welcome them as our new neighbours."

Free entry to Tiki-O starts from 9pm, when guests can look forward to an 80s show.

Other highlights over its opening weekend include a Tiki Pop night tomorrow with 'Magnum DJ', and a performance by Elvis and his manager, Grace Land, on Sunday.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, will be the guest of honour at the Bierkeller's VIP party from 7pm tonight, where guests will also be given a tour of the Tiki-O bar.

To book a place for the Bierkeller opening night on Saturday, call 01274 397400.