Already, new life is being breathed into the area with the opening of Reel Cinema and hundreds of thousands of pounds invested into brand new restaurants, Sofra Turkish Cuisine and DWNTWN (Down Town) – both proving to be popular culinary delights.
Impressive works have also been completed on the former Ribblesdale Hotel – the 19th Century building now ready to open its doors as a restaurant or bar.
And, the Council is looking for funding opportunities for King George’s too – a true gem in the crown of that area – last year hosting Liam Gallagher, Florence + the Machine, Paul Weller and more as it marked its 100th year as an impressive entertainment venue.
Currently, all eyes are on Blakey Moor Terrace which will be built back better after storm damage sadly meant that part of the dilapidated building was left beyond repair.
While it was an initial blow for the project, it offered a chance to re-draw the plans – creating one, large restaurant space rather than two, much more suited to the modern market.
Artist impressions by award-winning architects, Group Ginger, show how it’ll look once finished with stunning new shop fronts plus an improved area to the front of the building with increased outdoor seating and new access to the rear linking through to the cinema.
And, all this just a hop, skip and a jump away from Lord Street West – home to Prism Contemporary – a gallery and studio space for local creatives, artists, designers and commissioners bringing world-class art to Blackburn – and Prism Studios.
Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Executive Member for Growth and Development, said: “These are exciting times for our brand new Cultural Quarter.
“As our towns continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic, we know that a strong cultural offer will be more important than ever before and so this project is incredibly important.
“We’re already seeing real momentum in this area with the opening of new restaurants and works being completed on the former Ribblesdale Hotel and we’re working hard to build on that – developing a fantastic offer for our residents and visitors.”
The Blakey Moor Terrace project is part of the Council’s Townscape Heritage project with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
