ONE of Blackburn's biggest town centre venues is getting a makeover and being turned into a double treat for the tastebuds.

A new German Doner Kebab (GDK) restaurant and Treatz Dessert Parlour are set to open in Blackburn at the former Maida Restaurant building.

The restaurant and the dessert parlour will take up the ground floor of the Eanam site which closed earlier this year.

The GDK restaurant will have more than 100 seats and Treatz will accommodate up to 80 customers.

The second floor which was being used a wedding or function hall will be a separate business not connected to the restaurants.

The man behind the scheme is entrepreneur Assad Khalil, from Blackburn, who runs several businesses across the country including the Pepe’s Restaurant in Whalley Range.

He said: “The full building inside and out is being completely renovated with a new complete glass front to the building. Work is set to start in the coming weeks.

“We are hoping to open the GDK restaurant in March and the Treatz Dessert parlour a month after that.

“We have been looking for a suitable spot in town and this had real potential.

“The Adhan group who own the site have been very supportive and accepted our plans to renovate the building.

“There is ample parking space nearby and we will have 40 spots on the site too.

“The whole renovation is set to cost around £2m. We are fitting everything out brand new.”

GDK has more than 70 branches worldwide and is growing rapidly.

Its first store opened in Berlin in 1989 and their signature doner kebabs use what they describe their ‘unique blend of traditional spices’ and exclusive products.

A GDK branch opened in Preston in June and has been a big success.

The Treatz brand was established in 2012 and has also stores across the UK.

Mr Khalil already manages several Pepe’s piri piri restaurants and Treatz dessert parlours around the country.

He also revealed plans to open Pepe's piri piri in Nelson and Bolton in the new year.

He said: “This will be a new food destination for Blackburn and surrounding areas.

"This is the first GDK restaurant we are opening with a few others in pipeline.”