Top chef and restaurateur Barrington Douglas will raise a glass to his late dad at the opening of his new cocktail bar.

Barrington, 47, has opened Discovery Lounge Cocktail Bar in premises next door to his award-winning Discovery Bay Caribbean restaurant in Wood Street, Huddersfield.

Three months and tens of thousands of pounds have gone into the 1970s retro yet modern bar.

And Barrington has dedicated his new venture to his late father, Wilbert, who died earlier this year aged 73.

“My dad is my inspiration,” said Barrington. “And the new cocktail bar is all down to him. I’m really proud of my dad.”

Barrington opened Discovery Bay in 2006 and it was always his ambition to have a cocktail bar as well.

The choice was moving or expanding next door and Barrington has bought out the lease of the premises next door.

Barrington has used some of the inheritance left by his father to create what he describes as the “prettiest-looking bar in Huddersfield.”

He has invested heavily in fixtures, fittings and furnishings for a venue which boasts a solid oak and marble-fronted bar, stylish German-designed Barcelona chairs and comfy leather sofas.

The entrance to the restaurant is now through the cocktail bar and diners will be able to relax next door before and after their meals.

Drinks will be served up by cocktail makers Joey Rhodes and Scott Hester. Scott has come all the way from the Cayman Islands.

All the traditional cocktails will be on the menu along with Barrington’s specials which include Plantation – made from gin, agave, basil, grapefruit and lime – and Bufala Negra, a bourbon and ginger beer-based drink served in an old-fashioned glass.

The cocktails are priced from £6.50 to £7.50.

In the New Year Barrington plans to update the decor in the restaurant and tweak the menu, offering more seasonal dishes.

Sharing platters and tapas will also be introduced including a special Sunday lunch.

Barrington, who is currently moving back to the family home in Deighton to look after mum Valda, 83, is also tasting success with his own food range.

His Huddersfield deli in nearby St Peter’s Street is thriving and Barrington’s jerk pork pie will hit the shelves at 50 regional branches of Tesco from December 10 and his hot pepper sauce and two chutneys – red onion and pimento and tomato and Scotch bonnet – will be trialled in Asda from April.

“These are exciting times,” said Barrington. “But with opening the cocktail bar and moving house it hasn’t fully sunk in yet.”

The cocktail bar had a “soft opening” on Saturday night – when 120 people came through the doors!

The official opening was tonight from 5pm.