A council says it is in advanced discussions for a new Akbar's to take over a town centre spot.

Akbar’s already has successful Indian cuisine restaurants in major cities, including Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. The successful chain started out as a small, 28 seater restaurant headed up by Shabir Hussain. It has boasts ten sites and employs 67 chefs and more than 300 staff.

It’s just opened a brand new restaurant in Newcastle too and is now in talks with Blackburn with Darwen Council to operate in the former Blakey’s – part of King George’s Hall.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, the Council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Growth and Development said: "Akbar’s coming to town would be a huge coup.

"They’re renowned for offering quality Indian cuisine with busy restaurants in major cities right across the country.

"Talks are well underway to now bring them here to Blackburn – what a fantastic opportunity this would be for us and for them."

Blackburn’s £50m Cultural Quarter centres around the historic King George’s Hall which last year celebrated its centenary with special gigs including Liam Gallagher and Florence + the Machine.

Councillor Mahmood added: "We have an impressive £1bn vision for the future here in Blackburn with Darwen and we’re carving out a strong reputation for growth.

"Our town centres will see substantial investment in the coming years and central to that is our bid to develop a really strong cultural offer too.

"In Blackburn we have the £250m Town Centre Masterplan for the former Thwaites site – this is believed to be the largest town centre regeneration scheme of its type in the whole region.

"And just last week we secured £20m of Government funding to bring forward a new skills and education campus of national significance there with the Government also naming Blackburn with Darwen as a new Levelling Up Partner.

"We have a great story to tell here in our borough and it’d be fantastic to have Akbar’s be part of that."