A NEW £150,000 café bar in the grounds of a thriving pub is to bring the flavours of Australia to East Lancashire.

The new Mojo Blackburn eaterie has been specially-built next to the Hare and Hounds in Lammack Road.

And Preston-bred chef Jamie Boon and his Burnley-born partner Bex Mckavett are promising the menu at the venue will bring the taste of 'Down Under' to Blackburn.

Owner of the Hare and Hounds Ian Robertson is promising the new cafe bar will be something new to the town both in terms of the food and atmosphere.

Mr Boon, 28, learnt his skills in Australia under Sydney Opera House chef Simon Sandal and is coming to Mojo after working at the two Michelin-starred Moor Hall restaurant near Ormskirk.

The new 40-diner cafe bar is to open on Wednesday next week.

Mr Robertson said: "I am delighted to announce that Jamie Boon is swapping his chef role at a two-star Michelin restaurant to run the Café Bar with his partner Bex Mckavett who is also a hospitality professional and will lead on the front of house.

"All these ingredients have combined to create a unique, high quality, café environment in Blackburn.

"There is no other place like it in the area.

"It is a huge investment of more than £150,000 in total which will benefit not just the town but the whole area.

"It will not just be a cafe but a community hub offering activities including bingo nights, arts and crafts events, belly dancing, keep fit and folk nights.

"Jamie's culinary journey took him to Australia where he worked for one of its most highly respected and most renowned chefs.

"Whilst doing so he discovered a new passion—brunch café food.

"With a strong background in fine dining and a deep appreciation for café cuisine Jamie is now ready to plough his own furrow.

"His dedication to quality, creativity, and the café culture he fell in love with in Australia makes him uniquely qualified to create an inviting dining experience."

Mr Boon said: "The food will be rustic and fresh with an Australian twist.

"It will be flavour town.

"I want people to come here hungry and leave happy.

"Australia is years ahead of here. It is the future of food.

"The menu will be simplicity with a twist.

"There will be nothing pretentious about it.

"We want to bring Blackburn's culinary mojo back."

Mr Boon will be putting two of his favourite signature dishes on the menu - Chia Pudding, an Australian coconut flavoured form of tapioca and tomato bruschetta.

Mojo will also cater for funerals, parties, christening and buffets.

It can be followed on facebook @mojoblackburn.