Bolton strip club Diamonds finally being torn down after delays

The former Diamonds strip club, and Nicholas Nightclub with adjoining buildings fronting Bank Street and Manor Street have been set for demolition since 2019 with bulldozers moving in over the last few days.

Plans were originally approved in April 2019 for the multi-million pound Church Wharf development, with demolition of Diamonds and adjoining buildings supposed to take around eight weeks in total.

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However, many delays have meant work has only just fully begun on demolishing the site.

Bolton Council describes the £150m Church Wharf scheme as a new town centre area ‘set alongside the River Croal, providing new homes and jobs and transforming an underused piece of land into a thriving local community’.

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The waterfront setting would have a mix of 352 homes, cafes, restaurants, offices and other leisure uses.

In April, The Bolton News revealed ‘abysmal’ mismanagement of a demolition contract at the same site ended up costing Bolton Council £380,000 more than expected.

Councillors heard the contract for the demolition of the former Late Club and Club Ice, on Bank Street, was originally set at £395,000.

After contractors began work in May 2019, unforeseen additional work was needed to prop the banks of the River Croal and walls and the budget rose to £514,000 by February 2020.

But when the final bill arrived in June 2020, it was for £896,000.

That area of town has been left fairly neglected since the closure of the bars and clubs for demolition, with a fire hitting the buildings in June, causing the road to be closed in both directions.

Six fire engines, police, and an ambulance were on the scene for over more than two hours dealing with the fire with Bolton Central crew manager, Andy Berry, saying there was evidence that someone had been living in the buildings, but no one was found there at the time.

A council spokesperson said: “Church Wharf has been a key intervention area within the Town Centre and can be referenced on the Invest in Bolton website.

“The Council has a delivery partner and entered into an option agreement with Muse Developments, the site has outline planning approval and the Council continues to work with Muse to identify the delivery of the future development and when this will come forward. 

“The Council has successfully secured the site and will be demolishing the properties to create a development site.”