Carlisle’s Old Fire Station is doing everything it can during the cost of living crisis by freezing drink prices and keeping the cost of tickets as low as possible.

Affordability is the watchword for the Peter Street venue where owner Will Morgan wants to ensure people can still enjoy a great night out even as finances are squeezed.

He’s promising the prices across the whole range at their bar won’t change before the end of the year. A pint of Amstel, for example, is now £4.50 and will stay at that price.

The Old Fire Station will absorb rises from its brewery to give customers certainty. 

And with an average ticket price of £17.50, it remains great value for money with a first class line-up of music and comedy to choose from.

Will says: “We’ve decided to freeze all of our bar prices until the end of the year.

“We want everyone to know when they are buying tickets to an event there’s not going to be any surprise price increases.

“So whatever we charge today for a drink, we’re going to charge at the end of the year as well. 

“We’ve put a complete bar freeze in so that people can budget accordingly and they know that if they come today and it’s £4.50 for a pint it’s not going to be £10 in three months’ time.”

On ticket prices, Will says: “I looked at what our average price is and it’s £17.50 for a ticket which I think is super competitive.

“We toyed with the idea of having to put prices up but we’ve fought against that and decided to keep all of our ticket prices really competitive.”

Since taking over The Old Fire Station last September and being able to reopen after lockdown, Will has been struck by how much live entertainment means to people and is determined to keep it affordable even during times of financial hardship.

He says: “I saw what people were like when they were coming to music gigs and comedy shows, they were leaving in tears. 

“It was an overflowing of emotion, people saying, this is my life and I didn’t realise how much I’d missed it until I was back at it. 

“I realised how good it is for people – it builds mental health, socialising, being with other people and experiencing things together. 

“To see a live band you’re really into with hundreds of other people, it’s a different experience. It transcends everything.”

Forthcoming events include Dave Finnegan’s Commitments on September 23, comedians Jenny Eclair on October 5 and Mark Watson on October 9, and former Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell at the end of November, plus much more. 

Tickets can be bought online at www.ofscarlisle.co.uk or from the box office, either over the phone or in person on an event night with no fees.