Dolly’s Tearoom on Bolton Road has had an exciting makeover to make it appeal to a wider audience, and it’s already going down a storm!
New menu and name for Darwen eatery
There’s a brand new menu, and the venue is now opening for evening dining on Fridays and Saturdays to add an extra dimension to Darwen’s night time economy.
The tearoom is already an established part of the Darwen culinary scene and has been operating since 2010, but now has a new lease of life with a new menu, new chef, and a new name – Dolly’s Restaurant, Bar & Grill.
Owner Suzanne Halliwell explains the reason behind the transformation.
“Hospitality has certainly faced a lot of challenges in the four years since I took over Dolly’s, but we are still here and still going strong for which we are truly grateful. We get asked all the time to resume our evening dining that we began just before the pandemic, but the timing never seemed to be right with the cost-of-living crisis.
“I’m not saying that people aren’t still feeling the pinch, but we wanted to bring a new menu that you often only see in Manchester and bigger cities, but at a more affordable price and without the added cost of having to travel out of town.”
A vibrant new menu with something for everyone
New chef, Mike McCue, joins Dolly’s after working as head chef at The Foundry in Blackburn and Hunter’s in Preston. His new dishes include a freshly made double Cajun chicken burger with cheese and bacon that has already been very popular with customers.
Other additions include a towering halloumi stack, Dirty Diane chicken dish, loaded nachos, Makhani curries, along with some real restaurant classics. The restaurant will also be offering fresh roast dinners on a Saturday and Sunday, along with steak with peppercorn sauce.
But Suzanne is keen to stress that although some things have changed – Dolly’s legacy remains. She said: “Dolly’s was named after a relative of the founder in his memory, and we believe strongly in keeping his legacy alive.
Extended opening hours to add to Darwen’s nightlife
“We will of course still be offering afternoon teas but do plan to add new savoury and sweet creations to them, and we will be serving brunch right up until 12.30pm Tuesday to Sunday. Our message is we are embracing the new, hoping to give people somewhere else to enjoy. We cater for vegans, and for those on gluten free diets for example; but we also understand that our loyal customers are those who love some of our more traditional items on our menu. I do think if we got rid of cheese and onion pie, that some of our guests would cry, I really do.”
Dolly’s Restaurant Bar & Grill is now open Tuesday to Sunday with extended opening hours on Friday to Sunday. You can book online at tableagent.com or by telephone on 01254772033. For more up to date news you can follow Dolly’s on Facebook.
The venue is also a #shopdarwen retailer, so be sure to ask for a prize draw entry form if you spend £5 or over!
