Diamonds lap-dancing club owner will only sell to Bolton Council for 'the right money'

Town hall chiefs want to buy up Diamonds, in Bolton town centre, as part of major plans revealed by The Bolton News this week to regenerate Church Wharf.

But Barry Grundy, the Bank Street club’s owner, is adamant that he will only leave if the council meets his terms and if a suitable new location can be found.

In March, councillors accused the Diamonds boss of demanding an unreasonable price for the building and The Bolton News understands that the council has since made an offer to purchase it.

Mr Grundy said: “I have had a meeting with the council and they said they would be making an offer on the building. I want to be relocated to a good spot, but the council has never come to me with any proposals.

“I am happy to move provided they can kit out another building for us with exactly what we have at the current club.

“I know the building is an old property, but it is a good business. We have put a lot of money and effort into it over the years.”

The council is currently in talks with developers over plans to build 500 homes around Church Wharf — an area stretching from Bank Street, looping back along the River Croal behind Bolton Parish Church.

A council spokesman said: “Church Wharf has been a long held aspiration of the council and details of the original scheme have been in the public domain since 2007.

“We are now in talks with a number of developers for a more modest scheme to deliver new housing.

“Once we have firmed up plans we will continue speaking to everyone affected by the development.”

However, Mr Grundy says that he is unconvinced the plans will go ahead, having seen a previous development scheme shelved.

He added: “Church Wharf does need regenerating. It is in a right mess at the moment, especially down the back of our street. But I’m not at all optimistic this development will ever happen.

“In 2007 we were issued a demolition notice, but we are still standing today.”