A £300,000 steak restaurant is expected to open its doors at the end of this month.

Steakout will launch in the former Chiquito store in Lower Audley Street, Blackburn.

Workers are currently putting the finishing touches to the new restaurant which will see the building completely renovated.

Six kitchen staff have already been taken on and the business is also in the process of recruiting front of house staff.

A taster event will also take place before the official opening which will give people a chance to try out food in the restaurant.

Franchise holder Rezaul Majid, who has lived in Blackburn and Preston said he is 'excited' about the imminent opening.

He said: "We're hoping to have it open by the end of July.

"Workers are currently making the finishing touches to the restaurant and sorting out the furniture and equipment.

"We've taken on six kitchen staff already and will be recruiting front of house staff next."

Mr Majid said they had been hoping to open the restaurant in May, but that there has been a lot of work to carry out.

He said: "The building has been in need of quite a bit of work so we've completely renovated it which has taken longer than expected.

"I'm excited about the opening of the restaurant as a lot of hard work has gone into it.

"It will bring something different to Blackburn that the town currently doesn't have."

The restaurant is expected to create 16 to 20 jobs, which will be a mixture of full and part-time, and will be open from midday until midnight seven days a week.

The restaurant will serve a range of steaks and other meats including burgers, lamb chops and chicken.

It will also have a milkshake and dessert area and will serve soft drinks.

The restaurant will also have 170 seats, including 130 inside and 40 outside.

Steakout was founded by Kaysor Ali and opened its first London store in 2008.

It expanded to eight franchised restaurants across the UK from 2013-15.

The move to Blackburn is now seen as an expansion and a chance to move into the North West.

By Ben Butler