Festive Food in Blackburn
Your guide for where to eat and drink this Christmas in Blackburn.
It’s time to celebrate Christmas, so whether you are looking for a drink with friends or a big night out with great food, Blackburn has an option for you.
Drinks with friends
If you are just looking for drinks with mates or even a starting point before heading off for a big Christmas night out, why not venture into town and grab a drink (or two) at one of the many pubs and cocktail bars we have.
For a start, we have a couple of pubs right next door to each other, that have a wide selection of worthwhile beers and are able to provide you with entertainment for the evening. The Drummers Arms, which can be found on King William Street, is hosting a #blackburngigs event each Saturday at 5pm, as well as their usual and ever popular open mic night.
Meanwhile, next door at the Rock Bar you’ll find a pub that lives up to it’s name. Plenty of great rock music to partner their ace selection of craft beers, including plenty of live acts.
But it’s not all about beers and pubs, if you fancy a nice glass of wine or are hoping for someone to create you an outstanding cocktail, then head over to the Firepit, where the music is always on and the bar staff will get very creative for you! Not just that, but they are another venue that has a special Christmas Day menu.
King of the curry’s
Blackburn is home to some of the best curry houses in the country and they are always decked out to look festive for the season, making them an ideal place to have your Christmas meal with friends, family or even a works night out.
We’ll start by mentioning Akbar’s because (a) the food is great and (b) they are one of the venues offering a special Christmas menu. The atmosphere and service are always top notch, the food selection caters for everyone and we promise you’ll feel very festive in the restaurant!
Another great option is Saffron Street, it’s been a popular venue since it opened and we love the creative menu. They will take you on a regional tour of India via local specialities like Karahi Gosht, Prawn Chettinad and Nihari Biryani.
Finally, we have to remind you of one of the most highly rated restaurants in the whole of Blackburn – Thira. We could tell you about the lovely decor or the superb menu, but we would simply suggest you try the Masala Dosa, you won’t regret it!
Food on the go
If you are busy getting all those Christmas gifts from the amazing shops we have in Blackburn, you’ll need something to eat that will keep you going. Fear not, we have plenty of places to keep the hunger at bay.
Checks & Greys is the perfect spot for those festive catch ups with friends, offering an affordable menu with local produce – the Ribble Valley sausages are a must try. RF Patisserie is a good spot for a sandwich to eat as you walk around. If you just want a slice of cake, why not venture to Caffee Impresso, Mad Hatters Tea Room or The Ginger Muffin. There’s a variety of café’s to choose from in town and most have now got their festive themed cakes and drinks for you to enjoy, gingerbread latte anyone?
If you are looking for something a little more substantial, then the burgers over at 16th Street might be the perfect option for you. Food on the go (or you can sit in) that’s still restaurant quality.
Whatever you need to keep up the energy levels whilst you shop, you won’t be disappointed.
Our variety of food makes us special
The variety of food is one of the highlights of the restaurants in Blackburn. For example, why not head to one of the great Turkish venues in town for your Christmas dinner. Over at Kobeda Palace, the choice will make you hungry just reading the menu and Istanbul’s has always been a firm favourite for friends and family to dine out for a special occasion.
If you fancy a big steak treat for Christmas, then you have to be heading to Toros steakhouse. The food is amazing and is also one of the growing list of unlicensed venues in town for those looking to focus more on food than the drink.
We also need to put in a mention for the vibrant atmosphere and food at Turtle Bay. It’s ideal for a Christmas party vibe with mates, where you can enjoy the music (including live acts), choose a festive cocktail or spice up your Christmas with their Caribbean Christmas menu.
Remember to treat yourself
Christmas is the season to be cheerful and for many, that means treating yourself to something special at the end of a long day. After you’ve finished the Christmas shopping or been out to another festive event like the Panto, drop into one of our lovely dessert venues, ideal for those with a sweet tooth.
These treats are literally heavenly, so let’s start with Heavenly Desserts. Just look at a menu that offers Mocha Croffle and Caramel Monkey Bread, then tell me this isn’t a perfect place for some holiday cheer.
The chic, two-storey Haute Dolci has a pretty impressive menu as well, all served in a fabulous venue on Church Street. There’s so much to choose from but if you had to choose one thing, you cannot go wrong with Chocolate Sinner French Toast – it will definitely give everyone a little festive spirit.
Buying food for Christmas at home
It isn’t all about eating out, maybe the real treat is to have friends and family eating together at home. It’s tough to beat spending the evening with people you love in the comfort of your own home. If you are looking for a few extras in for the night, we’d suggest a visit to Blackburn market, for it’s diverse selection of fresh foods.
You’ll find fresh and vibrant fruit & veg, the ideal base for a good Christmas dinner. You’ll get all your veg, including those all important brussels sprouts, with the knowledge that 90% of the veg is sourced locally.
They have a selection of butchers to cover all your turkey needs, or maybe you’ll fancy serving up salmon instead for tea fresh from the fishmongers? If it’s a cheese board you need to impress the guests, not a problem! Or head to the artisan bakers for a loaf of sourdough or something a little sweeter.
And if you do make an evening of it and a few friends are stopping over, why not treat them to a full-on breakfast, supplied by the Bacon stall. Aside from the obvious, they also make succulent sausages for the perfect breakfast bap!
Blackburn loves Christmas and we hope you are able to get out and enjoy the many options we have, either from our suggestions above or the many other bars and restaurants in town – if we’ve missed your favourite, follow us on Facebook or Instagram and let us know what places we should add.
