After years of decline, bar and club owners across Bolton town centre are striving to make it a safer and more attractive night out in a bid to shed its “unfair” reputation. TOM GEORGE reports.

TWENTY years ago, thousands of partygoers would descend on Bolton each weekend for a night out on the town.

In the town’s 90s heyday, clubs such as Atlantis and The Temple were bustling hotspots enticing groups of revellers from across the North West.

However, in recent years, Bolton’s reputation as a night-time destination has been marred by a string of closures and incidents of violence, forcing many to look elsewhere.

But those days could soon become a thing of the past, with several new bars having sprouted up in recent years, breathing new life into a scene ready for change.

Among the latest venues to open are Northern Monkey and Popworld, while a new nightclub, SYN, is set to open in the former home of Blind Tiger in Nelson Square.

The message coming from bar and club owners across the town centre is clear. They feel its reputation is undeserved, and that the picture often portrayed is far from the reality.

The catalyst for change has been the nationally recognised Best Bar None scheme, which launched in Bolton town centre in January 2017. Within its first nine months it was hailed for its part in reducing alcohol-related violence inside venues by 32 per cent.

The scheme sees police, the council and bar and club owners work together to reduce alcohol-related harm and is focused on improving professionalism and standards of trading while coming up with innovative approaches to safety, welfare and concern for the vulnerable.

The man who introduced the initiative was PC Andy Vernon, Greater Manchester Police’s licensing officer for Bolton.

At the time, the town’s nightlife scene found itself at the bottom of a downward spiral and was in need of a boost. After hearing about the success Best Bar None had elsewhere, PC Vernon decided to bring it to Bolton.

Two-and-a-half years on, he is proud of the impact it has had.

“The scheme has been massively successful,” said PC Vernon.

“We do not get a lot incidents and it is rare that I have to do something about a premises.

“It has bound all the licensees together and they are working as a team now to try and improve the safety of the town centre.

“Obviously, they are in business and have to make money, but they are trying their best to improve the town.”

There are still incidents, however, but PC Vernon insists that the majority happen away from the venues.

Earlier this month, an 18-year-old was left in a critical condition after an alleged fight between a group of people in Bradshawgate.

“These guys can only do so much,” he said. “They are managing what is happening inside the venues.

“They do try to help us when stuff happens on the outside if it involves people that have been inside.

“There are still incidents happening, though, and there is still a lot of work to be done.”

To ensure venues are adhering to the required standards, regular enforcement nights are carried out by PC Vernon and council representatives.

Last Friday was one such night. One of the first places the team visit is The Venue Bar in Churchgate, which was among the first to sign up to the scheme.

Its landlord and resident DJ Dave Holmes agrees with PC Vernon’s view that there has been a noticeable rise in standards across the town.

“It’s making a massive difference,” he said.

“It encourages everyone to keep their standards high. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing and anyone who comes into town to start trouble is moved on.

“You still get your drunkenness, but on the whole I do not think it is too bad. There are some great places here in Bolton and there are more opening all the time.”

Among the other bars signed up to the scheme are tiki bar Kahiki, and Roc, both of which are on Bradshawgate.

While they acknowledge that incidents do still happen, owners Faye Graham and Tim Wetjen say that Bradshawgate’s reputation for being “rough” is often “exaggerated.

Ms Graham said: “It is an easy argument, but a lot of venues are trying to drive standards up.

“We are doing everything we can to offer a safe night out in Bolton. When we came in three years ago, it was each to their own, but Best Bar None has brought the venues together to work as a community.”

One of the benefits of the improved communication between venues is that it helps to weed out underage drinkers and troublemakers.

Ms Graham explained: “In the past, bars used to be very competitive and did not help each other out, so troublemakers could just wander into every venue.

“Now, if someone has a fight then that person’s night is shut down because they will not get in anywhere else.”

It is a balmy summer evening and taxis stream back and forth along Bradshawgate, ferrying groups of merry revellers to the town’s night spots.

Men and women, young and old, pour out of the cabs and into one of the many bars and nightclubs that line the busy street.

As the clock ticks over to midnight, there is not a hint of hostility in the air. Instead, the majority of people seem intent on enjoying themselves.

Soon, many of the younger crowd will head to the town’s largest nightclub, Level. Tucked up a side street off Nelson Square, its brick facade belies its labyrinthine interior.

Since replacing J2 in 2015, the club has found itself in the headlines on several occasions ­— mostly for the wrong reasons.

In the early hours of New Year’s Day 2017, 20-year-old Joel Halliday was stabbed seven times by brothers James and Ryan Coward inside the venue.

Since then, major strides have been taken to improve safety. ID scanners and metal detectors have been introduced to screen those entering the club, while a club crew helps to identify vulnerable individuals and prevent them becoming victims of crime.

Meanwhile, the bar also boasts an in-house medic to try and take pressure off the over-stretched ambulance service.

John Wood, area manager for Level, said: “We have had the crew for about three years now and we find they are invaluable.

“We get quite a young demographic. Sometimes it is their first experience of a night club and they do not know who to talk to.”

Level’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. They are the only venue in the town to receive Best Bar None’s diamond award, and PC Vernon is effusive in his praise for the nightclub and its management.

Unsurprisingly, Mr Wood is equally enthusiastic when he speaks about the transformative effect the scheme has had on the town.

“I think Bolton gets a really bad rap,” he said. There are some lovely people here and it is only a small element that ruins it. That is the case in every town.”

PC Vernon agrees that the town’s reputation is often unfair and says the true picture does not always come across.

He explained: “Bolton town centre does not deserve that reputation anymore. There are a lot of licensees that have only been here two or three years, who have been working really hard to make things better.

“We are trying to turn the corner and work with the licensees to make it better. It is a long process and it will hopefully continue getting better and better.”

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for environmental regulatory services, Cllr Anne Galloway, said: “Bolton has a vibrant night-time economy and it’s important that we all work together to ensure the safety and enjoyment of those visiting and working in the town centre.

“We work closely with Greater Manchester Police, and other partners, as part of Best Bar None.

“This is a Home Office backed initiative for bars and clubs that are committed to promoting a responsible attitude to a safe night out.

“We have seen an increase in town centre premises signing up to the scheme since January 2017 and it has also been rolled out in Westhoughton.

“Together with GMP, we visit all licensed premises to ensure they are complying with the terms of their licensing agreement and carry put enforcement action where necessary.”