drove past it this morning, noticed it was boarded up. i know it's been used to house our "overseas friends" anyone know owt about it ?

it's in a dire condition - somebody needs to buy it and do something with it.

It needs knocking down, it is a disgrace. When asylum seekers were there the owner received loads of our money yet allowed it to become so run down. Mind you there are other eyesores around Wigan - just look at the state of it around the Spar in Hindley! Just what do we pay our Council for, they have no idea.

why knock it down? It could be restored quite easily.

The shops in Hindley are privatly owned btw, hence the problem.

Does any on know who owns it and how much would it be to buy

I noticed too that the Grand was boarded up and thought how sad. I was married in the 6o's and a few friends of mine had their wedding receptions there but we could'nt afford it. It suited it's name at that time and a few of the famous groups etc of that time that were appearing at the Ritz used to stay there too. WHAT IS OUR TOWN GETTING LIKE?

Jim Riley WAS the owner - don't know the situation these days. It IS a disgrace though; it has, as I recall, a really beautiful telephone kiosk on the second floor - all wood and really '30s!

I had my wedding reception there in 1970

We had our convent class (70 - 73) reunion there in 1991 (ish)

owners who let nice buildings deteriorate like that should be prosecuted.

Me and my mate were dj's there in the mid 70's and also the All Saints Tavern which was next door. The function room downstairs was rumoured to be haunted although I never saw anything I heard some strange goings on coming from that room. No one would venture in to that room alone at night, myself included. I cant remember who owned the building at the time but the managers were Phil Whittle and John Carrington.

When I worked at the County Court in the early 1990's we used to go for our dinner there every Thursday - it was lovely.

What would anyone suggest you do with it? You cannot upgrade to flats because of lack of parking facilities and the same for a hotel.

A small Group of elderly people getting together to buy it or some one with the money and have it run by a manager/receptionist like a hotel .They would pay a initial fee (then invested by the company)so they part owned their apartment(lease) and and then paid a rent that covered food electric and their apartment being painted once a year etc there must be monied people in Wigan or surrounding area that could afford to do this and do not wish to go into a home and they still have their dignity and company if they need it and easy to walk into town , and when they if so wished to move or died the Advanced money invested would be returned after six months that would give the owners time to find someone else ,if I had the money I would do that for them . just fancy saying ==Oh I live in the Grand == I have been trying to find 3 people to join me in buying a Hotel on the coast to do this but some are not as adventursome as me so I am still looking

"What would anyone suggest you do with it? You cannot upgrade to flats because of lack of parking facilities and the same for a hotel."


There are loads of flats / apartments without parking - especially in town centres.

They could easily do it up as basic apartments, nobody will pay top whack for them but they could easily rent them out to students etc...

I would think that renovation costs are very high especially in a restricted area. I think that if what you suggest were a viable proposition someone would have already jumped in.Maybe the credit crunch is slowing investment. As you say it is a scandal that the building ever got into such a bad state.

Chesty why is every one concerned about students its time the older person came first and there must be plentty rich people about , but then I dont suppose they read these columns

Can we get it listed? .... Ok I know that we have listed buildings that are rotting.. but there must be something that can be done? Valuation - plus cost of up grade - sell shares - short term / holiday let?

From what I read if a property is listed then renovation costs soar. You have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get permissions to do anything and it has to be in keeping with the existing building.

Travel Inn have a hotel in Wigan - so why not suggest it to Travel lodge! Their competitors - do the pub the same policy as the Wetherspoons lot.(Also their competitors)
Any business entrepreneurs out there?

travellodge would want parking.

On my recent visit back to Wigan I was shocked to see the crumbling state of the Grand Hotel . In the 60's it was a great place and was the place for weddings etc . What a pity it has been allowed to get in such a mess .It says a lot about the about the turkeys who are running the town these days .

Travelodge don't have parking at several of their sites - Staines for one. You have to park in a carpark at a cost of 11 quid if you arrive mid afternoon.

Actually Aussie says a lot more about the individuals who own the premises I would think!

Why does every problem with buildings revert back to the council? Not that I think they are blameless by a long chalk with regard to public buildings!

ianmcl , I agree that the owners are accountable for the state of the building .
My point is that the council seems to have a liking for building ugly new shopping centres and allowing some of the grand old buildings to just crumble away . Are there no heritage orders on these places to ensure they are kept in good condition ?. Wigan seems to junk its past in favour of ugly ,cold , bland , souless constructions . It has lost its identity , it could be any town in the North of England . A pity there is not a better vision for the town .

I could be wrong, but I don't think that Wigan Town Centre is covered by any sort of "conservation area", and just because a building becomes listed is no guarantee that anything will be done to preserve it or bring it back to its former glory (rural halls and castles may be an extreme example, but where they are privately owned there is no real obligation of the owner to do anything with it)its just that if they did it may well end up costing more money, which becomes a vicious circle, as they say they can't afford, the building gets to such a state that it is deemed unsfe, pulled down, land cleared then hey presto, new soulless one put up in its place. Sad, but I don't think that listing the Grand would help it. Unfortunately.

Thanks Nicola , what a sad state of affairs .There was such a heritage of the Industrial Revolution in the North of England , and to just allow it all to disapear makes no sense at all to me . They keep all the symbols of authority , castles , courts ,cathedrals etc to keep reminding the English of the class system . Local councils should have some pride in restoring what is left of buildings that have some significance .

The worst thing they could do is make it a listed building. Any renovation then has to be in keeping with the original building and permission given by the Heritage Trust. This would be a very expensive way of keeping the building. Think Elizabeths idea is great. My cottage is listed and we cant do anything(legally) without permission.

Staffie =that looks a lovely part of Devon and your lovely cottage

It's a shame could still be a useful building.

So what is the answer , ignore the state of the building until it falls down , so thet another souless shoppimg centre can be built . Restoring the building to its original splendour is exactly what should be done . Have some pride!

it's up to somebody to buy it aussie and it won't happen any time soon. A lot of building projects in the town centre have had to be shelved because of the current financial market.

Re: grand hotel
Posted by: aussie 47
Wigan seems to junk its past in favour of ugly ,cold , bland , souless constructions . It has lost its identity , it could be any town in the North of England . A pity there is not a better vision for the town.

Absolutely spot on there Aussie. I couldn't agree with that statement more.

Back in the late 60s/early 70s when I went to the Grand Hotel, it was just that - grand. Absolutely beautiful. Folk owning premises like these and allowing them to fall into disrepar ought to be bull-whipped!

To be honest there is a car park at the back, so it could be turned back into a hotel/place like Elizabeth suggested.

Give me some names with money and I will do the ground work if you like and approach them with the Idea I have for the Grand and the work out how it works with apartments . I am quite willing to do the Ground work if I get some names , that is if you would like me to

Dave Wheelan was in the paper saying he wants to go into property development. He'd be a good start.

it's cheaper to build new,it the grand was a viable building somebody would have bought it by now.

It needs someone with a love of the building.

i worked there john riley was part owner and manager,great place lovely staff.

Is Chesty== against doing old buildings up , Do you belong to the tear them down brigade and put up Monstrocities Will try and contact Dave Wheelan Thanks

Jamie , I have set the ball in motion and have written to Dave Whelan so hoping to get a answer sooner than later will let you know the outcome

Also what about the building at Wigan park gates, it is a disgrace. It attracts drug dealers as well at the back.

"Is Chesty== against doing old buildings up , Do you belong to the tear them down brigade and put up Monstrocities Will try and contact Dave Wheelan Thanks"

Not at all, i'd love to see it restored, i'm a realist though and know that nobody is likely to restore it any time soon.

"Also what about the building at Wigan park gates, it is a disgrace. It attracts drug dealers as well at the back."

Which one?

Old buildings are a liability.
Nothing lasts forever and buildings which were originally constructed of substantial materials will last longer than those constructed of substandard materials. A building which is solid and sound to the eye, might be built on bad foundations and be full of rotten timber.
Who's to know, at a glance?
'Buildings' are but bricks and mortar and aren't worth worrying over.

At last the voice of reason. In the current economic climate no one will take on a project like restoring a crumbling building . Even if someone did do the rents will be beyond most people.

Anybody remember Lobgob who used to frequent the public bar in the Grand...?

Just thought Iwould let you know I have not heard a word either by post or email from Mr D Whelan he seems a very POLITE man ?? he could at least replied he wasnt interested as I did ask him to do that at least

Used to be a gorgeous place, been to a few weddings there many years ago but i suppose its the same old story, no money.

Poor Elizabeth, perhaps Dave just constantly seeks publicity & does not answer other mail he receives. The person who owns the Grand has had loads of money renting it to asylum seekers, he choses not to spend it on the Grand that's all. Both he & Dave are similar types of people then so have things in common (money, but are too tight to spend any). What a shame.

It's owned by the guy who has the Anvil & All Gates brewery. Apparently, he now has permission to demolish the hotel to build apartments there. Even though it's a listed building! Yet another iconic Wigan landmark soon to bite the dust :(

i think ,langtree homes used to own it.

timmy Please don't say they are demolishing it.

I think if it is a listed building he will not be allowed to demolish it

We have a Chemist in the High st here and that is a listed building and they are NOt allowed even to put a ramp (it has 3 steps into) to allow wheelchair access and not even allowed hand rails and yet I thought it was now law to have a disabled access to shops

Not Listed

What I'd like to know, is, are the owners of all these empty business premisses paying council tax? I was lead to believe that ALL property, private or business,was liable to council tax after being vacant for 6 months or more!

You are correct Tony.

So the mindless destruction of Wigan's heritage continues. How sad!

j.leyland my sister anne had her wedding reception there on
22 august 1970 wow how time flies it was a good time had by all pity the place today.

why knock it down when they can spend loads of money on it and house all the imigrants in it then they can claim everything going and sit supping coffee all day on standishgate on theire mobiles constantly , wearing theire top gear liveing the life of reily on us !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The hotel isn't in use at the moment, in any form.

Besides, your grasp of English is worse than some of the 'imigrants' you refer to.