A NEW Indian and Pakistani themed restaurant has opened in Astley Bridge.

Ayaan’s restaurant, in Old Road, is a new 80-covers dining and events space, influence by both Pakistani and Indian cuisines.

The venture comes from co-founders Mohammed Jabir and Habib Ur Rehman, general manager and head chef respectively, and has created 15 new jobs.

Mohammed said: “Having worked in hospitality venues across the North West since I was19 years old, I saw that there was a real opportunity to bring something new to Bolton and the surrounding areas in the form of authentic Pakistani and Indian cooking.

“There’s nothing quite like this locally and having grown up in Bradford and experiencing this style of cuisine all my life, I know it’s an incredible way of traditional cooking that I believe deserves more recognition.

“Together with my business partners, including our head chef, we devised a menu based on bringing the real taste of Pakistan and the Middle East right here to Bolton.

"This is an incredibly exciting chapter for all of us as our first restaurant together – and it’s been a privilege to centre it around a style of food that we all love.”

To complement the food offering, Ayaan’s boasts an impressive cocktail menu, alongside an extensive selection of beers, wines and spirits.

Mohammed added: “When we acquired the venue earlier this year, it was merely a shell and we’ve really poured everything into creating a stylish setting, perfect for families, friends, couples and even larger-scale parties and private events when restrictions allow. We have more developments in the pipeline such as the creation of an outdoor dining space, so this really is just the beginning for us.

“We’re incredibly proud of the team for their dedication to the project and for helping us achieve such a fantastic space which includes the likes of flower walls and bar seating. In the process, we’re delighted to have created a host of new jobs for those in Bolton’s local community and we hope to see the team grow with us in the years to come.”

Ayaan’s restaurant will be open daily from 5pm until late, with a local delivery service available across the Bolton area.