A landmark Bolton pub which has been under redevelopment for almost a decade is being offered for lease. The conversion of the former Three Pigeons pub, on Blackburn Road in Astley Bridge, has been ongoing for several years.

A number of plans have been submitted over the last decade to renovate the pub but the work has been beset by numerous delays. Planning permission was originally given in 2012 to turn the pub into a bar and restaurant, with seven flats built at the back.

Work on the site resumed in late 2020. In 2016, owner Nick Howcroft said his intention to transform the ground floor pub area of the Georgian building into an ‘iconic’ place to eat and drink.

Presently the ground floor area is being marketed on property site Rightmove as an ‘exciting opportunity for restaurant, bar and café operators’. The brochure for the lease states the 1,800 square foot ground floor is a ‘newly refurbished space providing a location on a highly anticipated development with potential to create an additional orangery and outdoor seating area’.

The space is being offered in a ‘shell’ condition’ with computer generated images also published showing how the interior and exterior of the bar or café could look once fitted out inside and an outdoor seating area created.

The marketing material, adds: “The opportunity is to lease the highly prominent ground floor of the former Three Pigeons pub at the busy junction at Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge following the buildings comprehensive redevelopment and refurbishment.

“To the front of the property planning has consent for an orangery extension along with an external seating area which would need to be installed by an occupier should they wish to do so. The premises will suit a bar, restaurant, café or coffee shop along with alternative retail uses or occupiers looking to take advantage of this highly prominent location one one of the main arterial routes to Bolton along Blackburn Road.”

The lease for the property is listed at £25,000 per annum payable monthly in advance.