Northcote Leisure Group to open café in Blackburn

23-Mar-2016 - Last updated on 27-Apr-2021 at 12:39 GMT

Nigel Haworth (right) and the team at Northcote will be adding to their portfolio this summer with the opening of Cafe Northcote in Blackburn

Northcote Leisure Group, the owner of Michelin-starred restaurant and hotel Northcote, has announced plans to open a café in Blackburn town centre later this year.

Café Northcote at The Cathedral will open early June within the new refectory space at Cathedral Court, an £8.5m Cathedral court building which is part of Blackburn's £30m Cathedral Quarter development.

The 78-cover café will be overseen by senior Northcote manager Claire Arnold and senior chef Dave Lyons who will work with newly-appointed general manager Ben King and head chef Andy McCarthy.

It will serve 'modern café food with an eclectic feel' Northcote chef-patron Nigel Haworth said, with produce sourced locally where possible and open seven days a week from 7.30am to 5pm weekdays, 8am to 6pm Saturdays and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.

The new venture, which has been designed by Katherine Haworth Interiors, will also offer work placements and training opportunities to catering students through a partnership with Blackburn College.

Haworth, who owns Northcote Leisure Group with Craig Bancroft and Richard and Lynda Matthewman, said “We are delighted to finally be working in partnership with Lancashire’s cathedral as part of this exciting development it gives us the platform to launch our brand new vibrant café concept, championing local produce and Blackburn’s heritage, we cant wait to be part of bringing Cathedral Court to life.”