A POPULAR restaurant has revealed its plans for the future after announcing it will not be reopening at its current site after a fire.

Brain Healy, from Healy’s Wine Bar and Brassiere, has said the restaurant will not be reopening at Lily Mae’s in Accrington, which has been shut since February due to fire damage.

However he has revealed he will be opening at the Stanhill Pub in February.

Mr Healy, from Accrington, ran his restaurant during the evening at the site near the viaduct, which was a coffee shop during the day.

He said due to the length of time before reopening he will no longer be staying.

However Lily Mae’s coffee shop will still be reopening once damage has been repaired.

The father-of-two said: “It’s taken much longer than expected.

“Financially it’s been a hard time more than it should have been.

“That’s the reason it wasn’t working, I had a hard time bringing in the pennies.

“The deep regret I’ve had is that I’m not reopening in Accrington, I was hoping to keep that site and open another one.

“The response I’ve had from people has been overwhelming, I can’t thank them enough.”

The existing site suffered ‘severe smoke’ damage to the kitchen after the incident in February.

Mr Healy was not working for the first couple of months following the fire as it was expected to reopen sooner.

However repairs have taken longer than expected due to complications with insurance costs.

He has since been doing part time work at the White Bull in Gisburn.

The 47-year-old is now looking forward to his next venture starting in Oswaldtwistle.

Providing everything goes to plan, Mr Healy will be running The Stanhill Pub and Kitchen from early February.

The pub will be undergoing a refurbishment at the start of next year to get ready for the new future.

The Westwood Street resident said: “I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s a bit daunting at the moment with everything that is happening behind the scene.

“But it is a challenge I cannot wait for.”

Shahed Mahmood, chair of the Hyndburn Chamber of Trade, said he wished Mr Healy luck.

He said: “The town is missing a good food/bistro place, that was one of the good ones in town.

“It’s a shame they won’t be open for the Christmas period but that’s the way its been.

“All we can do now is wish them luck. The Stanhill Pub has a great reputation and hopefully they can replicate that.”