00:00 Hi, my name is Sam, Digital Reporter for the Lancashire Post. Come with me as I get an
00:06 exclusive look inside Ackbars, a popular Indian restaurant chain which will be the flagship
00:12 restaurant in Blackburn's new £50 million cultural quarter.
00:18 So I jumped on the next available train to Blackburn where Ackbars is located and took
00:23 the short 10 minute walk from the station to right underneath King George's Hall where
00:29 the restaurant is based. For months, contractors have been transforming
00:35 the former Blakeys building into something truly spectacular. Inside, there was high-end,
00:41 vibrant decor offering a riot of colour. The bold interior makes for a perfect juxtaposition
00:47 with the heritage and grandeur of the Grade II listed King George's Hall where it's
00:52 located. Inside the brand new Ackbars was a sight to see. The Blackburn restaurant will
00:59 be taking up the prime position as the flagship restaurant in Blackburn's developing £50
01:04 million cultural quarter. You'll usually find Ackbars in major cities right across
01:09 the country, including Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham to name a few. From
01:15 humble beginnings as a small 28 seat restaurant in Bradford, there's now 12 successful Ackbars
01:22 employing more than 65 talented chefs and 300 members of staff with some of the best
01:28 set to relocate here. While the striking interiors are a draw, especially for the Instagram crowds,
01:35 it's the food that's the real selling point, bringing customers back time and time
01:40 again. Ackbars has nationally been awarded the King
01:44 of Curry title eight times by the likes of English Curry Awards, the National Curry Awards,
01:51 Asian Restaurant Awards and more. From old school favourites including Dan Sacks
01:57 and Biryanis to their special Balti's and Chef's specialities, the menu is extensive.
02:04 And for the real curry lovers out there, there's two chefs challenges to have a go at. One
02:10 for someone willing to take on a large meat feast and the other for a customer brave enough
02:15 to try the hottest dish their kitchen can prepare. That person will need to be very
02:20 brave too, as it's described as hotter than a dragon's breath.
02:26 Ackbars owner Shabir Hussain has been overseeing the opening of the new Blackburn restaurant,
02:31 carefully planning every last detail of its £400,000 transformation. And I could see
02:37 that a lot of effort and minute details had gone into the transformation.
02:44 From their colourful flower walls to their swanky seats, not to mention their lovely
02:50 dessert bar, it really was a feast for the eyes and I would recommend anyone in the Blackburn
02:56 area to give Ackbars a visit following its official public opening this Friday.
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