BLACKBURN Cathedral’s ‘Cafe Northcote’ opened yesterday with a steady stream of customers tucking in to everything from tasty Lancashire cheese on toast to New York deli-style hot salt beef sandwiches.

The cafe, fronting onto the central square of the Cathedral Quarter, from the main building’s £8.5m clergy court is a joint venture between the church authorities and Langho’s Michelin-starred Northcote Hotel and restaurant.

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The latter’s celebrity chef Nigel Haworth revealed the ‘new concept’ could be the blueprint for future cafes.

From 7.30am to 5pm it aims to provide a relaxed space for eating and drinking with outdoor terrace.

Cathedral Canon Andrew Hindley and Mr Haworth were delighted with day one. Canon Hindley said: “We first had this idea 20 years ago and it’s wonderful see it finally happen. It’s everything I hope it would be and it seems very busy.

“It is part of making the cathedral accessible to everybody and the heartbeat of the town.”

Clayton-le-Moors-born Mr Haworth said: “This is a new concept for us.

“We are not trying to replicate the Northcote restaurant but bring its standards to different eating and drinking experience in Blackburn.

“If it goes well Northcote might repeat it elsewhere.”

Prices range from a croissant at £1.70 through to a full breakfast at £6.95 and choice of Goosnargh chicken breast or French confit duck leg at £8.50 for lunch to a generous afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones and cakes at £12.50.

Some of the first customers seemed happy.

Blackburn-born Robert Dixon and his wife Kathleen had returned to the town from their Nottinghamshire home as part of the golden wedding celebrations. He said: “It’s wonderful. There was nothing like this in Blackburn 50 years ago.”

Also impressed was former chief superintendent Bob Eastwood,who said after coffee and a cake: “This is going to be the jewel in Blackburn town centre’s crown. I’m coming back for lunch soon.”