First look inside Turtle Bay as taste of the Caribbean returns to Blackburn

Turtle Bay, which stands in the shadows of Blackburn Cathedral, was forced to close in March last year, following the announcement by the Government that the country was heading into a lockdown over fears about the coronavirus.

And while other restaurants in the chain, such as Turtle Bay in Preston, have since re-opened, Blackburn's venue has remained closed for more than a year.

But on September 24, their doors will finally open to the public - so with promises of a new cocktail menu, the return of bottomless brunch, and new fresh food dishes, we took a sneak peak inside to see what's in store for the people of East Lancashire.

Operations manager, Fran Toal said: "Although the layout is exactly the same, we've spruced it up as it's been dormant for the last 18 months.

"Blackburn is one of the last venues to re-open and we've recruited a whole new team of staff.

"We've 35 new members in total and we're really happy with the team.

"We're bringing back bottomless brunch, which was introduced in November 2019 but didn't really have a chance to get started, so we're hoping it goes down well."

Mr Toal said Turtle Bay Blackburn will also be the first restaurant in the country to go live with a brand new cocktail menu, which will include firm favourites, such as the Passion Rum Punch and the Raspberry Reggae, as well as a twist on the Espresso Martini, and a new coconut Mojito.

Mr Toal added: "The food menu has changed a little too, as we've got a few new dishes, with lots of vegan and vegetarian options. There's a Goat curry, a Katsu curry and a jerk chicken Alfredo for those who love pasta."

General Manager, Julian Pace, who has worked in the hospitality industry for 17 years, and previously managed Bierkeller branches in Manchester and Liverpool said he can't wait to open and welcome back the people of Blackburn.

He said: "Bookings are filling up fast and we hope that by re-opening there'll be another reason for people to visit Blackburn so we can help make the town great again."