A NEW high end restaurant will open in the Albert Halls next year, it has been revealed.

The venue has partnered up with Heathcote & Co to open the new restaurant in the old Dido suite canteen -which has been shut since the refurbishment.

The restaurant is the final piece of the multi-million pound refurbishment of the halls, and will be funded jointly by the restaurant and the Albert Halls, which is run as a commercial venture.

Previous plans to open a eaterie in the halls have fallen through.

Cllr Linda Thomas, leader of Bolton Council, said: "A high class restaurant is a key part of the regeneration of the town centre, and was always integral to the plans for the refurbishment of the halls into a 21st century entertainment venue. It complements everything we are looking to do through our town centre masterplan.

"Paul is Bolton through and through and it’s a real feather in our cap that Heathcotes will be the official catering partner for the Albert Halls.

"The new refurbished venue is already hosting top profile events such as the graduation ceremonies for the University of Bolton, and with its top events building a real name for itself. Sir Ian McKellen has chosen it as the venue to perform on his 80th birthday for example.

"The restaurant will provide superb catering for conferences, weddings, performances and corporate events, and the Heathcotes name will provide a prestigious addition to the venue.”

The catering partnership will run for 10 years, the investment and images of how the restaurant will be released as the project develops.

Paul Heathcote said: "Bolton is my hometown, and The Albert Halls is a fabulous newly refurbished venue. We look forward to working closely with everybody at the council, the business community and further afield to really drive the hospitality into the town centre again.

"Next year, we are looking forward to the opening of a new restaurant at the entrance of The Albert Halls. The plans are closely under wraps, as is the name and we hope that we will be open for Easter. What I can say is that the menu will feature strong traditional Northern dishes."

Paul’s business partner and Director Gary Bates added: “We have already been helping The Albert Halls for the last 18 months. We have hosted some fabulous events for The Mayor, University of Bolton, and visiting delegates. It is a perfect venue for weddings and celebrations; as well as being a great space for entertainment and theatre.”

Controversial plans to cut into the iconic facade of Bolton Town Hall to create a restaurant and cafe, with outdoor seating areas at either side of the town hall steps, were scrapped after widespread criticism.

But there were always plans to explore the possibility of a restaurant in the new venue.