A HEAVY metal bar in Bournemouth is having a rebrand in exciting news for music fans.

The Anvil in Holdenhurst Road has closed its ground floor while the owners introduce a new concept.

The venue is set to become Electric Boulevard – a late night bar centred around skate and street culture.

Rock music fans will be pleased to hear the downstairs area will remain as The Anvil, and will stay open for live events for the majority of the rebrand period.

It will, however, be having its only little ‘facelift’, with changes proposed to its décor and the addition of a bar area.

A spokesperson for the venue said: “Electric Boulevard is going to be a late-night bar, and I’d like it to be an alternative to the other late-night offerings in town.

“It’s still going to be about alternative music, but it’ll be covering a whole broad spectrum, from rock to hip hop to indie rock to a little bit of metal.

“The Anvil still be presenting music downstairs. The live music events won’t be stopping, they’ll be an addition. All the pre-booked live music events are still going to be going ahead.”

The ground floor was closed on August 1 for the works but is expected to reopen before the end of the month.

The owners have already been working on site and say they are ‘excited’ to bring the new concept to life.

The spokesperson continued: “There won’t be any changes to the physical layout, but there will be changes to the colour and branding.

“It’s all being designed by Rick Walker - a local artist who has done quite a lot of stuff.

“We’re all painting it at the moment, ready for him to come in and work his magic.”

Announcing the changes on Facebook, The Anvil wrote: “It’s Bournemouth's worst kept secret.

“Over the last few months something new has been planned and now that the paperwork is signed we can finally announce it.

“From the 1st of August, the ground floor will be closed, refurbed, then relaunched as a brand new concept.

“Music fans, don’t fret, as The Anvil Basement will still be rocking as Bournemouth's premier live music venue with a fresh coat of paint and creative focus.”