By Matthew Legg Business editor

Last updated at 10:41, Saturday, 06 February 2010

A milkshake bar opened by two Geordie entrepreneurs in Carlisle last year has closed.

The Shake Factory was launched in premises at Kinmont Arcade, off Fisher Street, last July by Malcolm Hogg and Paul Weatherburn

National milkshake chain Shakeaway opened a branch in Carlisle’s Lanes shopping centre on December 11.

Mr Hogg and Mr Weatherburn said at the time they launched their business that they had modelled their shop on the Shakeaway format.

They offered milkshakes with chocolate bars, biscuits or cakes blended in.

The duo, both former speedway riders who have ridden for Newcastle Diamonds and Berwick Bandits, said that they chose Carlisle because it had no other similar businesses and because they felt it had potential to grow.

Mr Hogg said last July: “There is a chain of shops in Newcastle and one in the south of England doing this, but nothing anywhere else.

“We see potential in this to expand across the north of England and Scotland and even into America.

“There is nothing like this over there, which is strange because you assume ideas like this always start there.”

First published at 09:00, Saturday, 06 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk