14th September 2018
Desi Kashmire restaurant EastZEast, has opened its ninth site, this latest in Blackburn, Lancashire. The restaurant has been opened by Zahid Iqbal and Ash Hussain at King George’s Hall, with hopes to capitalise on pre-theatre diners and the town’s booming restaurant scene.
The former Blakey’s Bar Cafe has undergone a £350,000 refurbishment to offer 250 covers, 11 booths and a 50-seater bar. The restaurant includes a luxury VIP area and a giant chandelier with 5,000 crystals. The Punjabi restaurant, which includes a south Asian evening restaurant and daytime cafe, has been almost a year in the making.
Iqbal said: “We initially looked at other towns, including Wigan, Warrington and Blackpool, but saw the niche in Blackburn. It needs a fine dining restaurant that serves quality food. Rather than people from East Lancashire going to Manchester for a fine dining restaurant, I want them to come here.” EastZEast has two sites each in Manchester and Liverpool as well as restaurants in Birmingham, Bradford, Bury and Preston.