REIDYS, one of East Lancashire’s best known retailers, is moving to new premises.

The music store, which next year celebrates its centenary, is to open what is believed to be the country’s first music showroom at its new base on the Glenfield Business Park, off Philips Road in Blackburn, next month.

And its former home on Nab Lane looks set to become a Turkish restaurant - Istanbul - with a planning application for a change of use having been submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The Atrium Group which has submitted the application already runs an Istanbul restaurant in Cheetham Hill in Manchester.

A group spokesman: “The Atrium Group is pleased and excited to expand their restaurant branches to Blackburn town centre.”

Paul Nuttall, managing director of Reidys, whose grandfather opened the original store on Penny Street in Blackburn said: “This is an exciting new challenge for us.

“The nature of retailing is constantly evolving and this move allows us to offer customers a new experience. The brand new premises will be a music showroom; they are light and although only about the same size as our previous home, it just feels so much more spacious and there is also room to expand.”

Staff are currently fitting out the new showroom and it is intended to have between 500 and 600 guitars on display at any one time as well as a range of keyboard and other instruments.

“We love Blackburn and there was no way we were ever going to leave the town,” said Mr Nuttall. “This new location is ideal for us as our warehouse is round the corner which means a customer can instantly get their hands on an item we have in stock. There’s also free car parking and we’re handily placed for the motorway and good transport links.”

Reidys works with some of the most famous names in music including Fender and Gibson guitars and Yamaha keyboards. The new showroom will also offer a vast range of accessories and sheet music.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s regeneration chief said: “Reidys is part of the retailing fabric of the town and we are delighted to see this new concept taking shape and wish them every success.

“The application for their former premises is also very exciting and a quality bar and restaurant fits perfectly into that area with the Reel Cinema literally across the road and as part of the wider Blakey Moor redevelopment currently ongoing.”