Former Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy is planning on giving recovering alcoholics a venue for a great night out by opening a dry pub.
The actor, who played Curly Watts in the ITV soap for 20 years and is a reformed drinker himself, is opening Kennedy Street in his home town of Brighton, according to the Daily Mirror.
Kevin, 51, will be behind the bar with his wife Clare, 44, also a recovering alcoholic, and they plan to only employ other ex-drinkers, including people who have been in prison.
He said: "We're hoping to provide a safe place for people in recovery to go to eat, drink and socialise. We want them to be able to come for an evening, sing karaoke or listen to a band."
The bar will serve mocktails, tea, coffee and food, and Kevin, who has been sober for 16 years, is looking to raise £100,000 from local businesses for start-up costs.
He's also in talks with a TV production company with a view to making a fly-on-the-wall documentary about the project.
Clare, a counsellor who is setting up a charity to support ex alcoholics, also called Kennedy Street, said they had already looked at some former pubs and were ready to get started.
She explained: "People gave us unconditional love when we needed it and this is our way of giving something back."
Kevin is currently starring in West End musical We Will Rock You.
