Bolton: Look back on the eateries that opened last year

As the New Year is now in full swing, The Bolton News has decided to look back and highlight the eateries we reported on which opened in 2023.

January

Liz Snape from Hannah's Pantry and Sari Bijumon and her niece Gowri Anilkumar from Thira Restaurant (Image: NQ)Little Lever’s Hannah’s Pantry opened at the start of the year with people queuing out the door.

Hannah's Pantry, a village café, opened in Little Lever after owner and manager Liz Snape, decided to completely change her career after her daughter Hannah was born.

Hannah’s Pantry is based at 93 Market Street.

Thira Restaurant also opened at the start of 2023 in Farnworth.

The South Indian Restaurant was opened in Bolton on Worsley Road after the business achieved success with its Blackburn branch.

All of the food is freshly prepared with many of the dishes traditionally cooked with coconut milk.

The menu features traditional dishes such as masala dosa, Appam, prawn moilee, kozhikodan biriyani but diners can still expect the usual Indian classics.

February

Marisa Howell, Claire Davies, Laura Grundy from Jonesy's Juicy Bites (Image: Public)Jonesy's Juicy Bites Café opened in February located at The Gatehouse, Egerton Street, Farnworth.

The café offers a range of hot and cold treats, including all day breakfast, daily specials, sandwiches, wraps, hot subs, protein boxes and more.

Owner Claire Davis previously worked at Bolton Royal Hospital as a health care assistant for three years and was ready for a change so decided to open a café.

March

The Hide Coffee House at Pennington Flash, Leigh (Image: George Lythgoe. Local Democracy Reporting Service.)A waterside café opened at Pennington Flash in Leigh, The Hide Coffee House.

The popular beauty spot had been ‘crying out’ for a facility like this for years, open seven days a week, the wildlife-themed venture combines a menu using local suppliers, a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, and stunning views across the water.

April

Bethany Shum from The Globe at Egerton (Image: Bethany Shum)The Globe at Egerton opened and proved to be a huge success in April.

Bethany Shum, who was aged 18 at the time of opening, decided to follow in her family’s footsteps and opened the brunch and lunch spot at 273 Blackburn Road.

The eatery serves up all day breakfasts as well as lunches and has specials on the menu.

May

Kelly Law inside Café de Casa on St George's House in Bolton (Image: NQ)Kelly Law opened Café de Casa at St George's House in May.

Some of the products on offer include traditional English breakfast options, hot sandwiches, barms, and keto diet options too.

The café also offers traditional Hong Kong-style milk tea – an alternative to English tea with a richer flavour - as well as Hong Kong style French toast.

July

Carrs Pasties, Middlebrook (Image: NQ)A new Carrs Pasties opened at the Middlebrook and Retail Leisure Park, making it to fourth to be opened across the borough.

Crowds gathered outside the new shop - either for a free pasty or to meet the Bolton Wanderers legend John McGinlay.

Jaan's in Astley Bridge (Image: NQ)Jaan’s Restaurant also opened in Astley Bridge in July.

The restaurant, which seats 150 people, is co-run by brothers Saadullah and Hamdullah Waseem, who also run a Jaan's restaurant in Blackburn. 

It serves Asian curries, pizzas, barbecue food, burgers, steaks and grills. 

August

Burak Hasturk from La Bera tapas restaurant (Image: Public)La Bera Tapas Restaurant opened in August offering a range of Mediterranean tapas and owner Burak Hasturk believes that people can enjoy some of the best wines and cocktails in the town centre.

Greggs (Image: Public)A Greggs drive-thru opened in Over Hulton with a total of 25 jobs created.

It was Greggs’ third drive-thru in the North West, following the opening of restaurants in Irlam and Blackburn.

Bubble tea shop Natura (Image: NQ)Bubble Tea shop, Natura, was opened in August by Andy Nguyen, who lives in Farnworth.

He wanted to put his skills to use by opening Natura after success with 3D design models and competitive gaming.

He previously worked at Bobo Tea in Manchester Arndale and developed a passion for making the Taiwanese drinks.

Bubble tea was created in the early 80s, and the drink typically blends tea with milk, fruit, and fruit juices.

September

Westhoughton Rishi's fusion foods cafe (Image: Public)Rishi’s Fusion Foods Café opened in September in Westhoughton fulfilling a long-term ambition for well-known couple, Sarita, and Rishi Chohan.

The couple's culture and background inspires the food menu with Sarita’s heritage in Mauritius and Rishi’s roots in India.

The Subway branch on Deansgate (Image: NQ)Subway opened on the corner of Deansgate and Oxford Street in September, after it relocated from inside Crompton Place Shopping Centre.

Offering delicious sandwiches, salads and more right in the centre of the town.

October

Paul Martin, District Manager at Five Guys (Image: NQ)Bolton’s first ever Five Guy’s opened in October at Middlebrook Retail & Leisure Park on Monday October 16 with people from across the borough flocking to try out the new place.

The eatery offers delicious burgers, huge portions of fries, a wide range of drink options and other food items.

It’s proven to be popular since opening.

November

Greenhalghs Craft Bakery (Image: Greenhalghs Craft Bakery)Greenhalghs Craft Bakery opened at the all-new food and drink court on Wigan Road, Deane.

The bakery is offering freshly baked goods, drinks, soups and more and has already been popular amongst local residents.

Staff outside Paratha Stop (Image: Iram Patel)Joining Greenhalghs at the food and drink court was Paratha Stop.

Also having opened in November, the eatery provides the local community with street foods such as kebab tacos and samosa chaat, homemade paratha, fries, pizzas, desserts, a range of sides and kids’ meals.

December

Staff at Greggs (Image: NQ)Another Greggs opened in Bolton, creating more jobs, and offering residents even more food options in December.

The eatery is based at Bolton Gate Retail Park and offers breakfast and lunch choices and is open from Monday – Saturday from 6am to 8.30pm and Sunday from 7am to 5pm.

Abhishek Verma and his wife of 17 years, Monica, from Lucknow Junction restaurant (Image: Public)Last month also saw the opening of Lucknow Junction Restaurant in Farnworth.

Abhishek Verma and his wife of 17 years, Monica, previously ran Lucknow Junction in Oldham for two years, but decided to relocate to Higher Market Street after looking for a bigger space.

The cuisine is inspired by both the couple’s culture in Lucknow – a large city in northern India - which they stress is distinctly different to southern Indian food.

Customers can dine in or collect from the restaurant, Monday to Sunday from 5pm-11pm.

The Bolton News can’t wait to see what eateries open this year.

If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at chloe.wilson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on X @chloewjourno.