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?

i was in town on saturday late morning

whilst its a shame to see so many boarded up units, it did at least look pretty clean and on a glorious sunny day, it didn't seem such a bad place at all

 

they weren't even any beggars/homeless to be seen

sadly, there were very few people to be seen

 

2 hours ago, Casino said:

i was in town on saturday late morning

whilst its a shame to see so many boarded up units, it did at least look pretty clean and on a glorious sunny day, it didn't seem such a bad place at all

 

they weren't even any beggars/homeless to be seen

sadly, there were very few people to be seen

 

I was in town from 3pm to 2am on Saturday and it was deathly quiet.

8 hours ago, Casino said:

i was in town on saturday late morning

whilst its a shame to see so many boarded up units, it did at least look pretty clean and on a glorious sunny day, it didn't seem such a bad place at all

 

they weren't even any beggars/homeless to be seen

sadly, there were very few people to be seen

 

Supply and demand.

 

speaking to the lady that runs radcliffe market the other day.

Late night opening, switched the focus to food, and more of a communal dining hall bit like a food court. 

Apparently working really well, they've redone the basement ready for live music, swimming pool being rebuilt next to it. 

 

To be fair, I thought radcliffe was a lost cause. 

26 minutes ago, only1swanny said:

To be fair, I thought radcliffe was a lost cause. 

He is.

7 hours ago, only1swanny said:

speaking to the lady that runs radcliffe market the other day.

Late night opening, switched the focus to food, and more of a communal dining hall bit like a food court. 

Apparently working really well, they've redone the basement ready for live music, swimming pool being rebuilt next to it. 

 

To be fair, I thought radcliffe was a lost cause. 

I saw a piece about that food court- seems really good.

13 hours ago, only1swanny said:

speaking to the lady that runs radcliffe market the other day.

Late night opening, switched the focus to food, and more of a communal dining hall bit like a food court. 

Apparently working really well, they've redone the basement ready for live music, swimming pool being rebuilt next to it. 

 

To be fair, I thought radcliffe was a lost cause. 

They've plans in for Prestwich, Ramsbottom and then on to Whitefield. Good to see the smaller centres getting much needed investment.

On 14/07/2025 at 08:21, Whitestar said:

But NEVER a hash brown!!!

Wtf??  American shite.

Hash browns ? Food of the gods. Best thing since scotch eggs.

1 hour ago, FrancisFogarty said:

Hash browns ? Food of the gods. Best thing since scotch eggs.

You need to sample a quality rosti mate. You'll soon ditch the yank shite.

Hash browns on a full English-meh.

Always seem flaccid and soggy. 

Stick with toast for the starchy bit.

5 hours ago, FrancisFogarty said:

Hash browns ? Food of the gods. Best thing since scotch eggs.

Real Yank ones yes 

not the shit  you get Here 

Iceland 

do the Real ones 

Grated spuds 

31 minutes ago, little whitt said:

Real Yank ones yes 

not the shit  you get Here 

Iceland 

do the Real ones 

Grated spuds 

and sometimes grated onion, never seen the ones you get in the UK anywhere ive eaten

Spoons breakfasts are good value and if you like them yank things you can order as many as you like as an extra, not used a Morrisons cafe in a long time coz they changed them to pissing about on an app and tried to make the coffee machine all singing all dancing, Nah.

But back in the day i did used to enjoy a "flying start"

If ever heading over to the Fylde area always used to go to the Morrisons cafe at Preston docks, order a flying start and when they brought it over they would always say, (in that stupid accent that they seem to have in Preston, Blackburn, Burnley etc)

" Flying Stuurrrt".  Tickled me.

Iceland do a cheesy hash brown which is proper dirty but nice. Morrisons big breakfast barm was always good, not had one in a long while. Do like a Spoons small breakfast or their eggs benedict.

This morning off to a flying with poached eggs, sourdough, home grown tomato's and quickly fried up the Greek potato's from last night with a liberal dash of sriracha sauce....right, best pop to the gym before the first meeting 😁

Edited July 21, 2025Jul 21 by Not in Crawley

Shit hole...worst its been in last 5 years right.

Sick of trying to defend it to people, but it just gets worse.

4/5 "ok" pubs, all rest is dead and good food places closing or just tossing it off not.

On 15/07/2025 at 07:16, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I saw a piece about that food court- seems really good.

We go quite often to Radcliffe Markets. Foods reasonably priced, decent sized portions at quite a few places and really varied selection so caters well for groups if everyone has different tastes. 

Would definitely recommend. 

Nowt really to do with Bolton town centre but, when i was very young we never had a car, my grandad has an Austin A60.

When me & my sister were little we lived up Deane and my grandad would pick us up in the A60, bench seats massive, no seat belts and we would hang out the windows, brilliant.

Anyway, Ladybride estate was just starting to get built, every week he would drive us along the old junction rd, it looked great.

They closed it off and continued building ladybridge, we thought it looked ace and aspired to live there 1 day.

As we got older it gradually lost its sparkle, i actually went to the house warming party of the "win a house on ladybrige" house.

Last time i went anywhere near there some of it was feral.

Shame as i can remember the likes of gary player & Kevin Keegan turning up round there for a golf do.

5 minutes ago, Whitestar said:

Nowt really to do with Bolton town centre but, when i was very young we never had a car, my grandad has an Austin A60.

When me & my sister were little we lived up Deane and my grandad would pick us up in the A60, bench seats massive, no seat belts and we would hang out the windows, brilliant.

Anyway, Ladybride estate was just starting to get built, every week he would drive us along the old junction rd, it looked great.

They closed it off and continued building ladybridge, we thought it looked ace and aspired to live there 1 day.

As we got older it gradually lost its sparkle, i actually went to the house warming party of the "win a house on ladybrige" house.

Last time i went anywhere near there some of it was feral.

Shame as i can remember the likes of gary player & Kevin Keegan turning up round there for a golf do.

Jesus, I remember that. Mid 70's, Leeds and Liverpool players

Away from the centre. 

https://www.bolton.gov.uk/news/article/1911/greater-manchester-strategy-shines-spotlight-on-farnworth

We are becoming ‘gentrified’ 😊

 

I've spent a lot of time in Farnworth recently, and it's definitely improving, hopefully, they continue to do what they're doing. 

8 minutes ago, Sweep said:

I've spent a lot of time in Farnworth recently, and it's definitely improving, hopefully, they continue to do what they're doing. 

As long as you avoid the well known gang ‘winkle picker blinders’ you’ll be fine. 😉

39 minutes ago, Sweep said:

I've spent a lot of time in Farnworth recently, and it's definitely improving, hopefully, they continue to do what they're doing. 

When you hit rock bottom, there's usually only one direction of travel.

Right here's one for you,

Jennies pet shop!!

Bottom of morris green lane at junction of Daubhill station.

Was there ever since i can remember, but Jenny never got any older .

Remember getting a goldfish in there when i was about 4 and remember getting a dogs collar in there when i was about 24 and the girl hadn't aged 1 bit.  Is it still there? She must be pushing 80 by now???

5 hours ago, Whitestar said:

Nowt really to do with Bolton town centre but, when i was very young we never had a car, my grandad has an Austin A60.

When me & my sister were little we lived up Deane and my grandad would pick us up in the A60, bench seats massive, no seat belts and we would hang out the windows, brilliant.

Anyway, Ladybride estate was just starting to get built, every week he would drive us along the old junction rd, it looked great.

They closed it off and continued building ladybridge, we thought it looked ace and aspired to live there 1 day.

As we got older it gradually lost its sparkle, i actually went to the house warming party of the "win a house on ladybrige" house.

Last time i went anywhere near there some of it was feral.

Shame as i can remember the likes of gary player & Kevin Keegan turning up round there for a golf do.

 

Just now, crawshawbooth said:

 

The Pro /celebrity day was fantastic ,maybe 1973 or 74 from memory

Lovely summers day and just stars from the telly.

Loads of players and managers , nicked a ball from Bobby Charltons bag.

My memory is they were all really good with us kids , signed the program and chatted

Apart from Alan Clarke from Leeds ,what a miserable piece of shit he was .