Business
Popular Blackburn restaurant Thira to move into former Subway building opposite King George’s Hall
One of Blackburn’s best-known Indian restaurants is preparing to leave its longstanding home on Darwen Street and move into newly refurbished premises opposite King George’s Hall.
Thira, which specialises in South Indian cuisine from Kerala, is taking over the former Subway building at 3-7 Blakey Moor, part of Blackburn’s £50 million Cultural Quarter regeneration programme.
Thira, which has been a popular fixture on Blackburn’s Darwen Street since 2016, is preparing to move to larger premises in the former Subway building opposite King George’s Hall.
A Blackburn favourite since 2016
Thira opened on Darwen Street in 2016, founded by family friends Mr Iyer and Bijumon Pillai.
Chef Bijumon brought more than 20 years of international experience to the business, having worked with the Taj Group of Hotels in India and in kitchens in Cyprus, London and Blackburn.
The restaurant quickly developed a reputation for its distinctive Keralan cooking, offering something different from the more familiar menus found in many Indian restaurants.
Despite a relatively quiet start, Thira gradually built a loyal following, attracting customers from across Lancashire and beyond.
Over the years, the restaurant has collected a number of industry awards, including recognition as South Indian Restaurant of the Year in 2024 and 2025, Indian Restaurant of the Year in 2025 and Curry Restaurant of the Year in 2026.
Blackburn Life has also been a fan of Thira for some time.
Back in July 2020, we visited the Darwen Street restaurant as part of our food review series and awarded it five stars for food and service.
Our reviewers were particularly impressed by the flavours, quality of the cooking and friendly service, describing Thira as a restaurant deserving of its high ratings.
You can read our original review here:
Why is Thira moving?
According to the owners, the decision to relocate has been driven largely by the restaurant’s success and the limitations of its existing premises.
As Thira’s popularity has grown, the current restaurant has struggled to accommodate demand, particularly for larger families and groups.
The new building will provide additional space and a more comfortable dining environment while allowing the business to remain in Blackburn town centre.
The owners say remaining in Blackburn is particularly important to them, having established the business and developed close relationships with customers over the past decade.
What’s planned for the new restaurant?
The new premises at Blakey Moor form part of the ongoing regeneration of Blackburn’s Cultural Quarter.
The 1930s building, which previously housed Subway until 2020, has been undergoing extensive refurbishment to bring it back into use.
The larger restaurant will offer several facilities not available at the current Darwen Street premises, including:
- Space for private parties and celebrations of around 80 people
- A small conference room accommodating up to 10 people
- An outdoor beer garden
- More space for dining in a comfortable setting
The owners say the expanded facilities will allow Thira to cater for everything from family celebrations and special occasions to business meetings and community gatherings.
Despite the changes, they intend to retain the same menu style, hospitality and personal service that have helped establish the restaurant.
A prime location opposite King George’s Hall
One of the main attractions of the new location is its position directly opposite King George’s Hall.
With the historic entertainment venue having recently reopened following major refurbishment, Thira will be well placed to attract theatre and concert audiences looking for somewhere to eat before or after a performance.
The move also brings another established local business into the Cultural Quarter, where investment is intended to encourage more visitors into Blackburn town centre.
For the owners, the relocation represents an opportunity to expand without leaving the town that has supported the business since it opened.
Asked about their proudest achievement, they said:
“The proudest moment, above all else, is knowing that what started as a dream shared between two family friends has become a place where people feel at home. Seeing families celebrate with us, watching customers bring new friends, and hearing people say Thira is their favourite restaurant – those moments mean more than anything.”
What next for Darwen Street?
While the move represents an exciting new chapter for Thira and a welcome addition to the Cultural Quarter, it will also see the restaurant leave its familiar home on Darwen Street.
Thira has been a popular part of Darwen Street’s food and drink offering for almost a decade, and it is hoped that its current premises will soon attract another business.
A new occupier would help maintain activity along this part of Darwen Street and contribute to the town centre’s wider hospitality offering.
For Thira, attention now turns to preparing its new restaurant and building on the reputation it has established since opening in 2016.
An official opening date for the Blakey Moor premises has yet to be announced.