MEAT will be on the menu for Bolton shoppers when a new business opens its doors in the town centre this week.

Butchers firm Crawshaws, which has 33 stores in the UK, will be opening its first north west outlet in Newport Street on Thursday.

The shop will offer customers a range of quality raw meat as well as hot cooked food which will all be prepared in-store by a qualified on-site butcher.

The firm will be bringing 18 new jobs to the town and will open from 8am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday and from 10am until 4pm on Sundays.

This is the first store that Crawshaws will open after it successfully acquired the Manchester-based Gabbotts Farm chain of butchers earlier this year and fits with Bolton Council’s vision of bringing traditional, quality shops to the town centre.

Area manager Howard Lomax will be opening the store’s doors on Thursday and is excited about the new Bolton base.

He said: “We are delighted to be opening a new store in Bolton and the local community has wasted no time in telling us they are looking forward to being offered fantastic quality products at value prices.

“Crawshaws leads the way in butchering through its continual improvements in product range, commitment to quality standards, outstanding customer service and value for money for our customers.”

As part of its rapid expansion plan, over the next eight years, Crawshaws plans to have 200 stores nationwide.

The shop will be hoping to benefit from the council’s ongoing £3 million refurbishing project in Newport Street, which will include new trees, benches and shop fronts.

Cllr Ebrahim Adia, executive cabinet member for regeneration, said: “We’re really pleased that Crawshaws is opening a new shop in the town centre.

“Our aim with the £3 million investment in Newport Street is to attract a good range of businesses to Bolton. Crawshaws will be a great addition — it’s an independent company, and a traditional butchers, which sells good quality meat and produce at affordable prices.”