PRINCESS Anne has turned down an offer of £3,000 to open the new Hollywood Bowl in Horwich, it was revealed today.

The Princess Royal was asked to perform the opening ceremony by owners Bass Leisure Entertainments.

She would have been given the cash to spend on her favourite charity.

But she said she was just too busy with prior engagements.

The new 26-lane bowling alley at the Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park in Horwich is due to open on April 9.

Owners Bass Leisure Entertainments had hoped the royal seal of approval would have bowled over punters from the Bolton area.

Now there are no plans to crown the opening ceremony with a celebrity.

Hollywood Bowl manager Peter Doyle said: "We wrote to her and asked her if she could do the opening.

"We told her we would have donated an amount to the Princess' charity. "But, due to other appointments, she said she couldn't do it. I think we just got in there a bit too late."

However, he hoped the opening - during Easter week - would boost attendances and give it a successful start.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "We have an awful lot of requests and I cannot comment on each one she gets.

"I would only be able to comment on something which was due to take place."

The 30,000 sq ft complex will also boast a cafe and games area.

It will create around 80 jobs and is the 19th bowling alley in the Bass Leisure chain.

Richard Cave, managing director of Bass Leisure Entertainments, said: "I am delighted Hollywood Bowl is moving to Bolton. This is an exciting venture for Bass and also for Bolton. Bowling at Hollywood is great fun - everybody can join in and enjoy themselves."

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