Visitors to Ilkley will be given a new escape from the hustle and bustle of life when a new bar opens today.

The Escape bar, which was formerly the Tapas Tree bar, on South Hawksworth Street, will be offering comfy leather sofas for people to take the weight off their feet.

The new restaurant bar will be providing 23 jobs, Director of Escape Katie Driver is staffing the new venture with local people.

"We are employing local people because we feel it is important that people see friendly faces. This is the first bar we have opened and hopefully we will expand to other areas in the future," she said.

"We chose to start in Ilkley because it is a nice town and we wanted to provide it with the type of relaxed caf bar you would find in Leeds, but without being too trendy. It has a continental caf bar feel about it.

"We want people to come in have a coffee and read the paper or go on the internet, it is the perfect place to escape."

The bar will seat 60 people to eat and has the capacity to cope with 220 people.

It will provide internet access for customers to browse whilst they drink, a lounge with low dining tables and a restaurant area, which will allow children in until 7pm.

There will also be a non-smoking are in the bar until 9pm.

l