A LUXURY dessert bar in the heart of Blackburn will open in the New Year - paving the way for a revival of one of the town’s main streets.

Revamping the former El Greco coffee bar in the historic listed Waterloo Pavilions is now under way ready for Haute Dolci to start trading in early 2019.

It steps up Blackburn with Darwen Council’s plans to turn the pedestrianised Church Street, leading from the new £5million bus station past The Mall and market, into a ‘vibrant thoroughfare’.

Lancashire Telegraph:

The opening, creating 35 jobs, is scheduled to come shortly after the launch of Frankie’s Burgers and Dessert Parlour in the former Pitchers Bar in nearby Salford.

Regeneration boss Phil Riley said this latest venture was a key element in its bid to include Church Street in the revival of Blackburn kick-started by the nearby £34million Cathedral Quarter development and set to be widened by the Blakey Moor heritage quarter.

ANALYSIS: How Church Street was at risk of being the hole in the doughnut

Plans for Church Street stalled when the Gioia restaurant – based in the former Rovers store – closed in May after just six months.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Meanwhile The Grove pub at the junction of Church Street and Temple Court has remained dormant for several years.

Pictures published online this week show how Church Street has changed over the years.

Haute Dolci, which specialises in desserts like waffles, pancakes, crepes and milkshakes, is major player in the growing dessert bar trade with existing outlets across the UK and a new branch opening shortly at Manchester’s Trafford Centre.

Hamzah Alli, project director, said: “We are extremely excited to bring our store to Blackburn at such a crucial time for the town’s redevelopment. It will be a huge anchor in the town’s food and beverage offering.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Cllr Riley said: “This is an exciting addition to the town centre with dessert bars proving extremely popular.

“We are keen to make Church Street into a well-used and vibrant thoroughfare in the centre of our revived town centre.

“The council is hopeful that we can bring the Gioia premises back into use when we have completed the legal process to regain possession and would like to see all the buildings in Church Street brought back into commercial activity.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Council Tory group leader Cllr John Slater said: “We welcome Haute Dolci to Church Street and I hope to see the Gioia premises back in use and The Grove brought back to life.”

Waterloo Pavilions is a 1835 grade-II listed building and the premises were home to El Greco from 2011 – formerly Mr Moustacas in Lord Square – until it closed last summer.

Haute Dolci will be the third dessert bar in the town centre following Heavenly Desserts at Suddell Cross and Kaspas on Preston New Road and is the latest addition to Blackburn’s restaurant revival.

The plans for the new dessert bar were first revealed in May this year.

The Pavilions were were radically remodelled in 2004 after being vacant for 13 years as part of a £1.3 million heritage project.

The scheme was a collaboration by a number of different partners including Blackburn with Darwen Council, Historic England, The Heritage Lottery Fund, Townscape Heritage Initiative, North West Development Agency & Capita Property Consultancy.