First Look: 130-seat seafood restaurant opens in Blackburn

It is only the second Jimmy’s Killer Prawns Bar and Grill in the country after the Leicester branch opened in 2018.

The menu features seafood offerings such as their signature ‘killer prawns’, lobster thermidor, grilled crab, sushi and salmon, right up to a £95 Millionaire's Platter, as well as chicken, meat and vegetarian dishes.

Staff are hoping to entice customers from across the region to Peel Leisure and Retail Park complex.

General manager Bradley White said: “We are delighted to be opening in Blackburn offering something new and unique to diners. There no seafood restaurant of its type in the area and I think some of our platters will be popular.

“It is a good location for a restaurant alongside brands such as Nando’s and Vue Cinemas and there is free parking outside too.”

The restaurant was due to open in May. Bradley said: “Work started here at the beginning of the year and then lockdown happened which delayed things.

“The team have worked really hard to ensure we are open for diners in September. The restaurant is fully Covid-19 compliant.

"We have a track and trace system in place and hand sanitisers for all customers and staff.

“Of course we will be shutting at 10pm due to restrictions but will be open throughout the day.”

A total of 27 jobs were created with the launch of the restaurant which is a global franchise with stores throughout Southern Africa, Middle East and Europe. The restaurant is named after chef ‘Jimmy’ who in 1991 opened his first restaurant in Johannesburg, South Africa with an aim to ‘celebrate prawns’.

Bradley said: “We have the main chef here from Leicester who has been training all the staff. We have also taken on three talented chefs from Blackburn College.

“There are plans for the brand to expand and the company is looking at several locations.”