AN AWARD winning restaurant will be at the hub of a £3million food hall development at a top tourist attraction.

Longridge-based eaterie Thyme is set to open a restaurant at Oswaldtwistle Mills, as part of the redevelopment of the former GB Timber shop at the corner of Union Road and Moscow Mill Street.

The scheme, labelled the Northern Ingredient Food Hall, will see the conversion of the rundown building into a 14,000sq ft food hall and restaurant.

Thyme - which creates 'modern English traditional food with a twist' and already has three resturants - was chosen because of its dedication to using quality local ingredients.

Operations director, Wayne Keough, said: "Lancashire is great for food. Our county landscape from the coast to the countryside provides fine quality ingredients - from black pudding, to game and cheese - there's no need to go elsewhere.

"People are starting to realise that supermarket shopping isn't always the best.

"They are thinking about what they're eating and want honest, quality products delivered with feeling and personality."

Boyd Hargreaves, director of Oswaldtwistle Mills, added: "Finding the right restaurant business to reflect our ambitions in the Northern Ingredient Food Hall has been a long-term challenge.

"Not only do they need to be able to produce wonderful food, they have to be passionate about Lancashire produce and fit well with our already established food specialists.

"We were looking for something a bit special... we think we've found it with Thyme."

Thyme has won Lancashire Life's Best Newcomer, award, Hi-Life Dining Club's 'Best Restaurant in Lancashire' award and is listed in the top 1000 restaurants - in Europe - in the renowned Egon Ronay Guide.

Plans for the development will go before Hyndburn Council for approval later this year.