Multi-million pound expansion creates Sri Lankan eatery at Blackpool Zoo

The first phase of a multi-million pound development at Blackpool Zoo is now complete.

Project Elephant, the biggest scheme in the attraction’s 45-year history, will create one of the UK’s largest indoor elephant facilities.

The centre is being built on vacant land at the zoo, opening up a further three acres for visitors.

The scheme’s first phase has delivered Nawala Street Food, a new eatery located at the entrance to Project Elephant and named after a street in Sri Lanka where the Biodiversity Elephant Conservation Trust (BECT), one of Blackpool Zoo’s nominated charities, is based.

Nawala Street Food opened on April 1 and offers a menu of oriental and Indian cuisine, with stir fry noodles and rice, sweet and sour dishes, curries, samosas and vegetarian options available throughout the summer.

The new building, which has an outdoor eating area, features a hand-painted mural designed by students of Blackpool Sixth Form College and created with help from local street artist David Healy.

Blackpool Zoo’s commercial manager, Sias Delport, said: “As Project Elephant continues to take massive strides towards completion I am delighted to unveil phase one – Nawala Street Food.

“It has been named in honour of a charity that we have raised more than £25k for, BECT, which we will continue to raise awareness of through Project Elephant here at Blackpool Zoo.”

Sias added: “We wanted to further extend our food offering to our visitors, who come from across the UK and overseas to see our beautiful residents.”