A POPULAR Caribbean restaurant is opening a new outlet in Darwen.

Ten years ago, David Wilson opened his first restaurant, Calypso, in Preston New Road, Blackburn.

Mr Wilson’s homemade soul food proved a hit and two years later he relocated to a bigger premises in The Wharf in Eanam.

Now, the Manchester-born chef is preparing to launch a new restaurant in Darwen, Sista Calypso, in Croft Street.

He said: “I lived in Darwen myself for a time, so I know first hand what an amazing town it is.

“It’s a town on the up and we want to add to that.

“We want to build on what is already here, and join with local businesses here as a co-operative.

“We are not coming just to try to make money, we are here for the long run.

“We are putting our heart and soul into it to bring something to Darwen that the people will love.”

Mr Wilson said his passion for soul food was rooted in his childhood.

He said: “Growing up in Moss Side in a West Indian community, I used to watch my friend's mum and grandma cook.

“I learned it all from them.

“When I was 12 I entered the junior cooking competition at Manchester’s famous Caribbean Carnival in Moss Side and won with my curried goat dish.

“When we opened the restaurant in Blackburn, people said it wouldn’t work, but look at us now.

“It’s good healthy, tasty food served in a friendly environment, and that’s something everyone enjoys.”

The chef will be serving a selection of classic calypso dishes to eat in the cafe during the day, and to take-away on Friday and Saturday evenings.

He said: “We will be offering a reduced menu, which will include all the favourites like curried goat and of course jerk chicken."

Scheduled to open in April, the cafe will be taking over the premises of Pamela’s cafe, following owner Pamela Hacking’s decision to retire.

She said: “The people are the heart of Darwen, it’s a family. This cafe has brought me so much joy, and the people who came in have given me more than I could ever give them.

“Now it’s time for someone else to take over and put the spice back into Darwen.”

Mr Wilson said he would be working with the council to make use of the new town-centre event space.

He said: “At the moment we are focusing on the food, but in the future we are hoping to work with the council to make use of the event space.

“I have worked at a lot of festivals like Glastonbury, Manchester Caribbean carnival and Preston festival and it would be great to bring some of that to Darwen.

“The aim to put on weekly entertainment and alfresco food in the summer.”