A FORMER pub and restaurant on the outskirts of Bolton town centre could be converted into apartments.

The derelict three-storey building in St George’s Road was previously home to The Crofters Hotel as well as housing a number of different food and drink ventures in recent years — most recently Smudge's.

A planning application has now been submitted to Bolton Council by developers who want to convert the historic building, which has been vacant for a number of years, into 14 apartments.

A spokesman for the applicant explained that the plans do not involve any extensions to the building.

He added: “The building has been vacant for many years with the last use designated as a pub."

“In the absence of a use, the building has become derelict and in need of renovation and modernisation to return to any form of use.

“Significant internal layout changes are proposed with little structural alterations, but all of the existing load bearing walls are to be retained.”

The building has a long and colourful history, stretching back to 1800, when it was sometimes listed as The Whisters Arms.

In the 1870s the building was listed as being owned by James Deakin of The Manchester Brewery Company, until it was acquired by Bolton Corporation, who sold it on to Magee's Brewery.

Since then the pub has had many identities, spending many years as The Crofters Hotel, then renamed Magee's, followed by a period of closure until, in the 1990s, it got a new lease of life as Gallaghers Oyster bar, later reappearing as the Oystercatcher.

In 2009 licensees Jane McDonald and her partner Frank Smith opened Smudges — a free house combining traditional real ales and an English-style restaurant — but the project did not take off.

The plans will be now be looked at by Bolton Council’s planning department which will decide whether to approve them.