Just had a meeting on Churchgate. Sad to see the Bolton News offices empty. And in a week or two the Travel Counsellors building opposite will be empty. Another 200+ people spending approx £20 per week on parking and lunches in the town... plus whatever other services they spend their hard-earned on - all being lost. Very sad state of affairs.

 

When will it get better? Should these empty offices be turned into apartments?

On 09/04/2024 at 15:05, Traf said:

Cobblers

No, it's true.

On 10/04/2024 at 21:10, Marc505 said:

Think it's either called the Odessa Stack or the Odessa Favourite, will knock a good few years off your life expectancy but well worth it 😀

Cap is doffed. Outstanding stuff. Pint with your name on if you’re about (didn’t want to interrupt your breakfast date 😂)

6 hours ago, Leyther_Matt said:

Cap is doffed. Outstanding stuff. Pint with your name on if you’re about (didn’t want to interrupt your breakfast date 😂)

Haha fair play glad you enjoyed it, was gossiping with my mum!

This is good news. Might even get oat milk at the cafe😊 (I was there yesterday on the way to OT, still not got it)

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/virgin-plan-direct-train-services-29233231?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR23LJP9ldZZg-YUJXtBvj_l7nWRQk4oWV7L7s309EPRGoiZ1JA_GRppBy4_aem_AU12dJJ1OkIZyKzJnZ7UjfRVQT7TZEqfNbeFvzs048DOJnpQdwdcl3HOZV0qmMudIv4J1mhpeyyHf-13F_sdlahn#lwlqykfdpvg5p5qye1

13 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

This is good news. Might even get oat milk at the cafe😊 (I was there yesterday on the way to OT, still not got it)

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/virgin-plan-direct-train-services-29233231?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR23LJP9ldZZg-YUJXtBvj_l7nWRQk4oWV7L7s309EPRGoiZ1JA_GRppBy4_aem_AU12dJJ1OkIZyKzJnZ7UjfRVQT7TZEqfNbeFvzs048DOJnpQdwdcl3HOZV0qmMudIv4J1mhpeyyHf-13F_sdlahn#lwlqykfdpvg5p5qye1

Well isn't it Bolton Pride this weekend? 

32 minutes ago, only1swanny said:

Well isn't it Bolton Pride this weekend? 

It is. I’m in town already. Lovely day for it😉

1 hour ago, BobyBrno said:

This is good news. Might even get oat milk at the cafe😊 (I was there yesterday on the way to OT, still not got it)

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/virgin-plan-direct-train-services-29233231?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR23LJP9ldZZg-YUJXtBvj_l7nWRQk4oWV7L7s309EPRGoiZ1JA_GRppBy4_aem_AU12dJJ1OkIZyKzJnZ7UjfRVQT7TZEqfNbeFvzs048DOJnpQdwdcl3HOZV0qmMudIv4J1mhpeyyHf-13F_sdlahn#lwlqykfdpvg5p5qye1

I thought it was a wind up when they said virgin trains then I looked at the date.

Would make a huge difference for me if it happened. Saps the life out of me the connections on the way home.

Would also kill off the most sensible metrolink route to Manchester.

Depends on what the powers that be seen as preferable local commuter routes or national connection 

6 hours ago, frank_spencer said:

Would also kill off the most sensible metrolink route to Manchester.

Depends on what the powers that be seen as preferable local commuter routes or national connection 

I'd be blown over if there's ever a Metrolink service from/to Bolton

7 hours ago, frank_spencer said:

Would also kill off the most sensible metrolink route to Manchester.

Depends on what the powers that be seen as preferable local commuter routes or national connection 

If it ever happens will be a spur off the Bury line somewhere near Radcliffe and running through East Bolton. Cheapest option.

1 hour ago, TrickyTrotter said:

If it ever happens will be a spur off the Bury line somewhere near Radcliffe and running through East Bolton. Cheapest option.

Think last year talk was of a line going Bolton - Breightmet- Elton reservoir- Radcliffe 

On 25/05/2024 at 09:37, tomski said:

I thought it was a wind up when they said virgin trains then I looked at the date.

Would make a huge difference for me if it happened. Saps the life out of me the connections on the way home.

Expect it would be over 3 hours mind as they won’t have priority on WCML and looks like quite a few stops. 

1 hour ago, TrickyTrotter said:

If it ever happens will be a spur off the Bury line somewhere near Radcliffe and running through East Bolton. Cheapest option.

That makes sense in terms of improving connections on that side of Bolton (and make it easier for Casino to get to Gigg Lane) but it would fairly useless in terms of getting in to Manchester. 

8 hours ago, radcliffe white said:

Think last year talk was of a line going Bolton - Breightmet- Elton reservoir- Radcliffe 

Few houses in Bradley fold had letters stating it would be along the old train line, 

issue is they've built about 40/50 houses along that route at various points. So would be purchase orders etc..

On 26/05/2024 at 22:29, radcliffe white said:

Think last year talk was of a line going Bolton - Breightmet- Elton reservoir- Radcliffe 

Details released 

The Food Hall has opened at Bolton Market. Had a mooch around. Didn’t buy anything but it both looks and smells good. Various stalls with a variety of foods and a small bar. 
I’ve said previously, that side of town is looking up. Now sat outside the Octagon with a glass of red. There are worse places in the world. 😊

1 hour ago, BobyBrno said:

The Food Hall has opened at Bolton Market. Had a mooch around. Didn’t buy anything but it both looks and smells good. Various stalls with a variety of foods and a small bar. 
I’ve said previously, that side of town is looking up. Now sat outside the Octagon with a glass of red. There are worse places in the world. 😊

Now pack it in. We all know that you must be in Bordeaux.

Went looking at a job in 

Wigan Town center yesterday 

Fuck me that is Grimm 

 

1 hour ago, little whitt said:

Went looking at a job in 

Wigan Town center yesterday 

Fuck me that is Grimm 

 

We've got a client in Wigan so been there a few times recently in the past year. The park near the church in the daytime just loads of folk drinking and fighting. Again, a bit depressing.

On 07/06/2024 at 14:28, BobyBrno said:

The Food Hall has opened at Bolton Market. Had a mooch around. Didn’t buy anything but it both looks and smells good. Various stalls with a variety of foods and a small bar. 
I’ve said previously, that side of town is looking up. Now sat outside the Octagon with a glass of red. There are worse places in the world. 😊

Tres bien.

On 07/06/2024 at 14:28, BobyBrno said:

The Food Hall has opened at Bolton Market. Had a mooch around. Didn’t buy anything but it both looks and smells good. Various stalls with a variety of foods and a small bar. 
I’ve said previously, that side of town is looking up. Now sat outside the Octagon with a glass of red. There are worse places in the world. 😊

Nice to see - and invest in cultural places, they do wonders on a shoestring budget for what they bring in not just in ticket sales.

16 minutes ago, Not in Crawley said:

Nice to see - and invest in cultural places, they do wonders on a shoestring budget for what they bring in not just in ticket sales.

I only went in the bar but we’ll try the theatre soon. (The Albert bar and cafe in the Town Hall is pretty good to) On the wider point of the town centre and my comment last week, Andy Burnham visited that area recently.

He’s one of the few decent ones. 😉 

 

The Octagon (working with partnership within the council) are doing great stuff. I know it's my sector but on very small budgets they can work wonders for a town in terms of not only economy but building pride back into a place.

It's really heartening to see, and where I'd like any party to really ake their bold claims is investment in the DCMS, it's will pay back in money, education and that intangible thing called civic pride.

3 hours ago, BobyBrno said:

I only went in the bar but we’ll try the theatre soon. (The Albert bar and cafe in the Town Hall is pretty good to) On the wider point of the town centre and my comment last week, Andy Burnham visited that area recently.

He’s one of the few decent ones. 😉 

 

Was told a few years back by a London estate agent chum that Bolton was gonna explode with investment as  a Manchester tag on. Logical but a slow burner.

5 minutes ago, tomski said:

Was told a few years back by a London estate agent chum that Bolton was gonna explode with investment as  a Manchester tag on. Logical but a slow burner.

We are being gentrified. 😊

2 minutes ago, BobyBrno said:

We are being gentrified. 😊

We already are T. The rest of the town are playing catch up.