COWGILL Holloway has advised Mancunian Leisure on the sale of Mantos bar in Canal Street, Manchester.

The bar was opened in December, 1990, by Mancunian Leisure owner Peter Dalton and Bolton-born property developer and former business partner Carol Ainscow.

It became one of the most popular bars in Manchester's gay village in the 1990s.

It has been sold to West Properties for an undisclosed sum.

Peter Dalton sold Mantos in order to pursue new business opportunities in the leisure industry.

He said: "Mantos had been a large part of my life for a number of years, but I felt that it was the right time for me to try my hand at some new projects.

Stuart Stead, Cowgill Holloway audit partner who led the Cowgills team, said: "Having worked with Peter on a number of projects in the past, he approached us to help him complete the sale of Mantos.

"We are delighted that a buyer was found so quickly and that the hard work Peter put into building up Mantos' reputation has been recognised. We are looking forward to working with him in the future as his exciting new business plans take shape."

Cowgill Holloway has 13 partners and 140 staff based at its Chorley New Road offices in Bolton.