It was scunny... until about 10 years ago. Unfortunately the majority of the town's younger population are tee total these days and as a result any real town centre nightlife has been killed off and the younger drinkers have been forced to seek pastures new in Clitheroe, Manchester and Preston. On the plus side though you can buy a kebab on virtually every street corner, masses of drugs available too if you either want or need them and taxi's are two a penny. Enjoy.

Oh dear Gav I am sorry to hear that.

Depends what you want. Here's two Station, Cherry Tree. 1.5 miles from Ewood. Outside facilities, pool table, Chippy opposite. Quite lively and gets v busy on a Sat night. Excellent if you like a scrap too! It's about 100 yards from Cherry Tree station on the Balckburn to Preston line. Butlers Arms, Pleasington. Approx 2.5 miles from ewood. Village pub. Outside facilities, pool table and decent food menu and a choice of beers and lagers..... and it's 200 yards from Pleasington Station on the Blackburn to Preston line.

I thought Jazzy Kex was shut? btw Good bar near there on Victoria Street last time I was in town (about 5 years ago) was Barzooka on Victoria St. Hope it's surviving. The downward path that the social scene Blackburn has descended is absolutely bloody criminal. I feel so sorry for the young now.... and worst of all it's all happened on my watch! But what can anybody do when the dice is so heavily stacked against? So sorry to all you kids. We had the best and we've stood and watched whilst it all got dismantled.

Blackburn Stations the best place for you..... You can catch a train to Preston or Clitheroe.

A few bad reviews on here I seem to remember..... http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/archive/2011/07/28/Clitheroe+%28clitheroe%29/9166722.Celebrity_chef_closes_Clitheroe_restaurant/ Tris I did not eat at Calypso and I would not eat at Eanam Wharf now. Nothing to do with the jerk chicken.... more to do with the jerk.

No but I might well do now as you so obviously rate them highly.

Bukhara really does set the standard for IndoPak cuisine. It is stand out alone at the top of the pile imo BWR. 'Chilman Biryani'.... it's not on the on line menu. It's prob new so I'll give it a try soon on your recommendation. I usually get stuck on the fantastic Afghani Lamb Tikka for starters and either Gosht alu Bukhara / Lamb Dopiaza for main. One of these days I'm going to go with 2/3 mates and order that roast leg of lamb on the specials. Every time I've seen it it looks amazing. btw 1.. Do you think if I did they'd get humanely slaughtered lamb for me and non of that inhumanely killed variety? It's the only thing that tempers my admiration for such well prepared and presented Pakistani meat dishes. btw 2..Any discount if I mention your name and pay with the folding stuff?

Speaking of naga.... http://www.strongsfruitandveg.co.uk/exotics/chillies/naga-chillies I got some of these rascals at my recommended greengrocers. Just one of these finely chopped and added makes a mean (Ramsey) chillie con carne I can tell you. Problem with them is that they are quite simply seriously fiery and unfortunately carry no discernable chillie taste. Half a dozen birds eye chillies serve the purpose much better imo. Be warned don't rub your eyes if you have been handling them!.... Oh and ladies are well advised to go for a pee before handling them rather than after!

Did you complain Sidders?

Do you know 3P I never open a recipe book these days despite having a shelf full. It's so much easier, quicker (and particularly if you include the ingredients that you want to use or have available) simply googling a recipe.

It's not just me that thinks it's awful then Preston Blue? I thought maybe I was changing into a grumpy old git. Thanks for proving that I'm not. "badly behaved noisy kids" Amazing how many people allow their children to behave like gremlins in public places. Running around in restaurants is surely a health and safety issue. I must say I've often wished some kids would get run over by the suite trolley or covered in hot soup but no doubt that would be a nightmare for the owner of the restaurant and not the numpty weak minded parents who are 100% to blame. There is no doubt that ill mannered hids are the direct result of ill mannered parents and nothing else. I suppose it stems from indiscipline meted out by uncaring parents in their own youth. This new well meaning but seriously misguided rule that forbids responsible parents from dishing out the occasional disciplinary slapped leg in public is just worsening the situation too. So nice to see that more and more hotels, restaurants and holiday companies have introduced a strict 'No Children' rule. Our slack liberal society in it's infinite wisdom has led to children now becoming below pets in the social standings. How goods that eh?

Went to a leaving do last night involving 8-10 pints of strong lager around Clitheroe finished off at 2.00am with a Khyber. First time I've been to the khyber in half a dozen years since Blackburn nightlife was unofficially declared dead and buried but the curry and chips with an elephants ear is still as good as it gets. Three of us two starters and three curries £23 the lot! Odd thing though. I rem the Khyber opening in the early 70's when there were just three curries available, keema, potato and cauliflower and as I said earlier I frequented it in fits and starts until half a dozen years or so ago but they must have changed chefs or something cos I never needed the help of any rennies in those days. This morning I was up at 5.00am frantically chewing two of em!

Unfathomable why Alghero's is so highly rated. All my mates like it but I detest the place.

Dunno if this has been shown before but Number 18's a good effort. 19 too brings back a few memories. http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/article/picture-gallery-things-sport-fans-write/

I understand from a source who should be in the know that the Freemasons might be suffering a fairly serious liquidity crisis.

Had a part business part pleasure run out midweek. Intended to eat at La Laconda at Gisburn but ended up in the recently and well refurbished 'Plough' at Wigglesworth. I expected decent but functional and traditional pub fare (especially on the 2 courses for £12 midweek offer) but I could not have been more wrong. The food we chose was cooked and presented so well that even the standards set by the Millstones at Mellor paled in comparison. Pork belly for starters with a main of lamb shank, apple and red cabbage and creamed mash was absolutely top notch whilst my more conservative gammon (accompanied by a superb but highly unusual home made pineapple relish which involved a touch of curry powder!) left me taking the unusual step of complementing the owner who also served us that either their chef was exceptional, their butcher ...or both. Presentation of all dishes was unusual but spectacularly succesful. Mrs Drog chose a glass or two 0f a pleasant Pinot Grigio served at exactly the right temperature whilst I (wary of doing a Kean) swilled my food down with a truly excellent pint of Timothy Taylors best bitter. ..... Turns out that the owners were previously in charge at the the Three Millstones / West Bradford which had developed an excellent reputation too. I hope this was not just a case of beginners luck but the presence of quite a few other diners on a Thursday evening suggests weekends might get increasingly busy as word gets out. http://www.ploughinn.info/ If only their spelling matched the standard of their food.

Went in the Clog last night for a pint of Wainwrights whilst my curry was being prepared at the Bukhara, it was 8.30 and the place was almost deserted. When I asked why it was so quiet I was informed that on Sunday nights it now accepts no food orders after 8.00pm. Chicken or the egg? It appears our local celeb chefs might be taking their eye off the ball a bit. Cos of who they are they have to charge more or else the illusion given by their reputation is destroyed. Problem for them is making food that bit better than the rest when they themselves aren't cooking it and instead are leaving it to hired hands. I took 'er indoors to Marco Pierre Whites restaurant in Hampshire a couple of years ago, it was OK but bloody dear considering he was nowhere near the place and it was recreated by some hired hand. These pampered and pompous chefs all eagerly write their books with their recipes in so anybody can recreate what they have devised without fear of copyright etc. Problem they have is that most can be accessed free on't internet anyway. Although I say it myself I pride myself on making effin Gordy's effin Chillie con effin Carne even better than him..... come to think about it I'd wager I've made it more often than him! And possibly there's the rub.

'50 people who fouled up football' by Michael Henderson is proving quite a good read. I'd recommend it for anybody interested in the game. Finished it. A very good insight into the world of English football. Anybody over 40 with an interest in football's inside stories will love this book although I'm sure that everybody's '50' will no doubt vary from the authors.... mine did.

2 new chefs. One has worked at both the Fieldens Arms (Mellor Brook) and Northcote Manor and the other worked at the Dunkenhalgh. Just to echo Vintage Adidas all these places should attempt to emulate the Millstone at Mellor. It does set the benchmark areound here.

I'll echo that. Er indoors had that and it was both tasty and a massive portion. I was ravenous so I had the spare ribs to start and Fish, Chips and peas. btw Regular portion is more than enough! For anybody that likes fish the Brill main course was excellent. The only disappointed criticisms were the asparagus and shrimp starter (two warm dishes served with cold tomatoe's doesn't suit) and also the fish curry which is a bit mild and sweet for many tastes. Just a point but the interior is very well done and tastefully decorated with the options of very private and comfortable booths but the only disappointment being the outside decor which makes it look like a down market Swiss ski chalet.

Good meat but be careful before anyone makes a special journey cos Spout House is only open about 3x per week so it's best to check first. There is excellent home reared Aberdeen Angus beef available at Greenhurst Farm Samlesbury. It's 50 yards down Alum Scar lane which is about 300yards out of Samlesbury village on the road toward Mellor and Blackburn. Recommended. *btw foodies. Nice little summer food trail here. Mellor post office for the best sausages in the area, (Millstone Hotel 50 yards away where the wainwrights is usually excellent) Greenhurst for Beef, (nice pint in the Nab's Head) and on to Huntleys for fish, veg and wine.(Quick scoop and lunch in the Myerscough). Lovely day out which is equally as good in reverse.... but get the missus to drive.

If somone back then had told me how Blackburn was to deteriorate and how quickly I'd never have believed them. It's finished. I feel so sorry for the kids nowadays.

Good work Allardyce you mean. It's turned out getting 2.5m for him was the best bit of business since Hughes prised similar out of Palace for Shefki.

Plus the fact that N'Zonzi got up and apologised. If he'd stayed down and feigned injury the chances are that the ref would have decided knock for knock. Strange decision when N'Zonzi was in possession and the challenger was the Arsenal player.