Bolton travel agents will step back in time this month to celebrate 150 years of holiday fun.

Althams Travel will mark its special anniversary with a full week of celebrations beginning on July 22.

And big plans are in place for the special anniversary.

Vanessa Thompson, assistant manager of the Bolton branch, said: “All the staff are going to be dressed up in old-fashioned outfits, with refreshments on offer and games for children to enjoy.

“We’ll be organising competitions, as well as offering extra vouchers and discounts to all our customers.”

Similar celebrations will also be taking place at the Althams branch in Farnworth, as well as at other branches across the North West.

Althams was first founded in Burnley by Abraham Altham, a tea merchant who started rewarding his customers by organising holiday trips in 1874.

Three years later, he began to sell these trips with dedicated travel desks being set up in his tea shops.

READ MORE: Police update after town centre bank has windows smashed and business daubed in paint

Bid for 60-foot-high house on local landmark back on the cards

Pub's special day to help family of girl, 6, with cancer

Over the years, the travel business outgrew the tea business, and ever since Althams has been focused on selling holidays to customers across Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Vanessa added: “Althams’ head office is still based in Burnley, so we’re still completely local and independent.”

Michelle Green, a travel advisor at the branch, recounted the history of Althams as a travel agency.


She said: “Abraham Altham started off by selling train-ride holidays to Blackpool. From there, the company expanded into coach holidays, and by the 1960s, travel abroad had begun.”

Althams has recently expanded its offering into cruises and escorted trips abroad.

Vanessa said: “People are looking to travel further than ever before and are really trying to tick-off those ‘bucket list’ holidays.

“We’ve been lucky to have had so many loyal customers in Bolton, people who book year after year. We’re looking forward to welcoming our customers back to celebrate with our fabulous staff.”