A new Chaiiwala cafe has opened on the site of a former KFC just outside Blackburn.

It will be the 112th Chaiiwala store to open worldwide and will be the second drive-thru branch to launch following one in Bolton.

The site will be managed by 'EG on the Move' which operates a network of stores at forecourts, including at Frontier Park, across town. 

The building, near Samlesbury, is believed to have cost more than £500,000 to renovate both inside and out. The new cafe, which is located on the main road between Blackburn and Preston, has 100 plus seats, parking and a dedicated drive-thru area.

It also has a multi-faith prayer room on site. The cafe had a soft launch on Friday and is now fully open.

The site had lay empty for some time following the closure of the KFC restaurant. Before then a Wimpy restaurant occupied the space. In 2014, plans were unveiled to open a Costa Coffee at the site.

The new Chaiiwala serves Indian Street Food and features its distinctive menu, along with additional treats and snack options.

The menu showcases breakfast, lunch, dessert and all-day items with signature products such as karak chaii, caramel chaii, English-Ish breakfast, masala chips and karachi bun kebab.

In Blackburn, there is a smaller Chaiiwala store on Whalley Range and a Chaiiwala Express kiosk at Frontier Park.

The Chaiiwala brand launched in the UK in 2015 and recently opened its first-ever airport outlet at London Luton Airport.

The brand utilises various formats for its stores such as high street locations, small kiosks, and retail park units with a target to accelerate its domestic and international expansion to 500 stores over the next 10 years.

EG On The Move Ltd is part of EG Group but is now a subsidiary of EG Retail Services.