AN empty pub owned by Bolton Council is to be auctioned later this month with a £90,000 guide price.

Lodge Bank Tavern in Bridgeman Street, Great Lever, was bought by the council as it was on land set aside for the a new school.

But when another site was chosen for the new Clarendon School, the former public house survived demolition.

The building, which has been empty for two years, is to be sold at auction on September 26 at the Reebok Stadium, with Bolton estate agency Miller Metcalfe handling the sale.

Sean Casey, from the firm’s auction department, said: “The building has a guide price of £90,000 and could be used for a variety of uses, subject to planning permission.

“We’ve had interest from a few developers.

“It could become offices, apartments or a restaurant.

“ It’s in a good location and has car parking space so I’ll think there will be plenty of interest in it.”

The building has potential living accommodation on the first floor and a second floor but is empty of all fittings.

There is also a rear car park and a former beer garden to the side.

A council spokesman said the authority does not normally buy and sell pubs but added: “The council acquired this building with the specific purpose of creating a new building for Clarendon Primary School located on the site and surrounding area.

“At a later point, this development was decided not to be viable and the new school building is being built instead on part of Bobby Heywood Park.

“So we have decided to dispose of the pub at auction.”

Miller Metcalfe’s property and lettings departments have sold more than £6m worth of commercial and residential properties at auction this year.

The firm, which has its headquarters in River Street in the town centre, has revamped its auctions’ division in the past two years.

Since the start of 2013, it has sold a number of large commercial properties and a large detached home on Victoria Road, Heaton, for £850,000.

This was believed to be the most expensive residential property ever sold in Bolton at a public auction.

The Lodge Bank Tavern closed for a while in 1979 then reopened in the 1980s after a refit.

|