Scholars restaurant at Blackburn College has re-opening

The college invited partners, stakeholders, students and friends to the grand re-opening of the well-known restaurant its Food for Thought café. 

The new restaurant interior and state-of-the-art training kitchen, which has undergone an £850,000 investment, was made possible through funding through the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF). 

All dishes made and served at Scholars and the Food for Thought café – which is open to all students at the College – form part of student assessment.

The restaurant is often ranked among Blackburn's best eateries, and is rated as the second best place to dine in the town by TripAdvisor users.

Guests at the opening event were treated to a range of canapes, made and served by current catering and hospitality students, before hearing about the investment and future plans for Scholars from college principal and chief executive, Fazal Dad, and new ambassador patron, Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef at the Michelin starred Northcote in Langho.

New features include a bespoke dry storeroom and a new prep kitchen, enhancing the teaching space.

The training kitchen now boasts state-of-the-art induction cooking, contributing to a ‘greener and safer environment’. 

The restaurant itself has undergone a complete refit. The new interior offers a variety of seating options including plush booths and high tables.

The enhanced front-of-house systems, including a barista machine and automated booking, reflect the demands of contemporary hospitality environments.

The Food for Thought café has been further revamped to complement the Scholars offering and redesigned in line with the curriculum. 

All food served at the restaurant and cafe are part of  student assessmentsLisa Goodwin-Allen and Scholars head chef and chef lecturer, David Lyon, lead the training at the restaurant.

Lisa said: “I’m incredibly proud to support the launch of Blackburn College’s new kitchen and restaurant facilities.

"This investment is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop the essential skills, creativity, and confidence needed for careers in the modern hospitality industry. 

“By providing real-world experiences, Blackburn College is equipping its students to thrive and helping to address the skills gap in this vital sector.”

Fazal Dad said: “It’s vital that our students leave Blackburn College not only with a qualification, but also equipped with the knowledge, skills and behaviours that are required for them to add value to their future workplaces. 

“This significant investment to our catering and hospitality department reinforces this and I’m delighted we can offer a learning environment that reflects an industry-standard kitchen and restaurant.”

Blackburn College student James Ashworth has recently completed a work placement at two-Michelin Star restaurant Moor Hall in Aughton, along with placements at Northcote and the prestigious L’Enclume (3 Michelin Star) in Cartmel.

He said: “The experience I have gained at Blackburn College has really set me on a great path.

"I’ve had the opportunity to complete placements at a number of Michelin Star restaurants in the region and the chance to work alongside incredible chefs such as Mark Birchall and Lisa Goodwin-Allen.

“My first head chef who really encouraged me to go into this industry began his career at Blackburn College and it’s inspiring to see what doors were opened to him.”