Fans of BBC daytime show Homes Under the Hammer are used to seeing incredible transformations – and this newly-launched Bolton restaurant must count as one of the more impressive renovations to have featured.
Statement restaurant will open to the public next week, after a complete overhaul of the old Natwest Bank building on Market Street in Westhoughton.
It has been a passion project over many months for the family who snapped up the property at auction, brothers Brian and Rob Tinniswood and Brian’s wife Karen, who own the acclaimed Provenance Food Hall and Restaurant right next door.
They seized the opportunity to purchase the derelict property as a way to double their restaurant capacity from 46 covers to over 120 with the new premises.
Viewers of Homes Under the Hammer will have seen the family take on the derelict pub, and they went on to feature in two further episodes of the BBC show with presenter Dion Dublin to show their progress on the site.
They bought the property at auction in September 2017 for £174,000 and they allowed a budget for refurbishment of £150,000 – but managed to do it all for £140,000.
When the Homes Under the Hammer experts returned to value the completed property, it was valued at £450,000.
The fruits of their labour were unveiled at their grand launch event, before the restaurant fully opened to the public on Wednesday 26th June.
They have created a modern, airy and spacious restaurant serving smaller dishes in the bar area, with a finer dining restaurant experience that Provenance is renowned for with head chef, Lewis Gallagher, taking the helm.
Statement has retained many of the bank’s original features, including a fascinating vault private dining space and extraordinarily high ceilings.
The opening of Statement has created ten jobs in the local area, both front of house and within the kitchen.
Rob said: “We are very pleased to finally bring our Statement concept to the people of Westhoughton and to be able to offer our locally sourced produce to a larger audience.
“As a family, we’ve owned the Provenance building since 1952 when our grandparents ran it as a toy shop, so we are proud to be adding to the family’s portfolio.”