Local chefs’ appetite for restaurant opening

Chefs and restaurateurs Mark Taylor and Jamie Evans are looking forward to welcoming guests to The Bank, Darwen when the government gives the green light for hospitality to reopen.

Like others who work in hospitality, best friends Mark (30) and Jamie (31) have had a year like no other.

The industry has been hit hard by the three lockdowns of the Coronavirus pandemic, particularly in places like Blackburn with Darwen, which endured tighter restrictions than the rest of England from last July.

But Mark and Jamie, who have worked together in hospitality since they were teenagers, have bounced back from their restaurant closure, by offering takeaway services from both their venues.

The two chefs have run a very successful restaurant at The Dog Inn, Belthorn since May 2019. From there, they ran a takeaway service as the first lockdown eased.

Then late last summer, they took on operation of the kitchen at The Bank Bar & Kitchen in Darwen. But just as they were ready to open, the November lockdown came into force and their plans were stalled.

Chef Jamie Evans commented:

Restaurants having to close has had a massive effect on us. We’ve adapted by offering takeaway – first at The Dog Inn, and now at The Bank.

Because we’ve had to adapt and change so much during the pandemic, it’s made us better at what we do. We feel like we are going to come out the other side of this stronger and better than ever.

Offering takeaways from The Bank has given us a chance to build our reputation in Darwen before we’ve even opened. We’ve already got a loyal following and repeat customers who order from us every week. We just can’t wait to open now.

Now the two chefs, alongside The Bank owner Gary Perkins of Darwen Bars & Leisure, are looking forward to welcoming guests into the new venue in Church Street.

Chef Mark Taylor said:

It’s frustrating seeing everyone’s doors closed and businesses shutting down. We’re lucky that we’re still here doing what we do, what we love.

I’m looking forward to getting the doors open to the public. That opening night is going to be a party for everyone that no one’s going to forget!

The chef team is also looking forward to reopening their restaurant at The Dog Inn, which underwent a £5,000 refurbishment last October but has since been closed.

Watch Mark and Jamie talking about how they’ve adapted their business model to survive the pandemic and how much they’re looking forward to opening their restaurants.

Coun Phil Riley, Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:

The hospitality sector has been heavily impacted by Covid restrictions over the last year, so it’s very heartening to hear about businesses like Mark and Jamie’s that have been able to adapt to the current situation and change their offering.

Sadly not every hospitality business has been able to do that.

The government has offered a number of grants to businesses in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors over the course of the pandemic. I’m pleased that the Council has been able to offer additional financial support through discretionary grants to the borough’s most severely impacted businesses who are not eligible for government intervention.

Times are still tough and we will continue to lobby the government for extra funding for our hardest hit businesses.

Chefs Mark and Jamie feature in the Council’s Picture This campaign which features local people talking about the things they miss doing, due to Coronavirus restrictions.

The goal of the campaign is to remind us that we can all do our bit to control the spread of the virus, to get back to doing the things we love quicker.

Find out more about the Picture This campaign.