A LANDMARK Blackburn pub has been transformed into a luxury Mediterranean restaurant creating 50 new jobs.

High class restaurant company Ego took over the Knowles Arms, in Brownhill, opening its doors for the first time on Monday.

The popular chain has spent more than £500,000 renovating the pub and hopes it will be as successful as its sister restaurant in Lytham.

General manager Warren Smith, 40, said: “It is a half a million pound investment and we’re creating 50 jobs – 20 of which are full-time.

“It represents an investment in the area.

“We’re creating fresh food in front of customers and we are investing in the community. It is a win-win situation.”

Mr Smith, who ran the Knowles Arms for about a year before it became Ego, said it was not working as a pub, but the response they have had since it became Ego has been ‘phenomenal’.

The pub has 160 seats, is open seven days a week with offers on every day.

Mr Smith said: “We have got an open kitchen serving freshly made food and there is a great atmosphere.

“We had a taster weekend which attracted about 150 people and it went phenomenally well.”

Head chef at the restaurant is Andy Hockney who has spent the last five years cooking up a culinary storm at the popular Lytham branch.

Cllr Phil Riley, of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for Regeneration, said: “This is a fantastic addition to the borough’s repertoire of high quality dining and drinking establishments.

“Having such a high quality brand here in the area complements exactly our ambition for the borough and offers a further welcome boost to our local economy.”

Ego now has 12 restaurants across the country and has plans to open two more by the end of the year in Mansfield and Nottinghamshire.

Ego at The Knowles Arms is open from 11am to 10.30pm.For info visit egorestaurants.co.uk