OUR DAY OUT AT BOLTON PALAIS

After a slow and agonising week waiting, the day of the appointment to tour Bolton Palais had finally arrived. I hadn't had much sleep for the last few days before..my mind working overtime thinking of the many questions I should be asking...in our appeal to Save our Palais. I was so nervously excited but apprehensive at the same time. I knew they'd said that Our Palais was in a bad state..and I knew that the developers were going to try to convince me that our wonderful building wasn't fit to be restored..that isn't going to be that easy for them to do..! I knew I still had faith in Bolton Palais..I would take some convincing..I saw inside just 6 months ago, she looked amazing then during the filming.. How bad can she be in just 6 months..? But hearing the talk of the place being a rat infested dump didn't make me feel at all comfortable about seeing her in those conditions after the wonderful memories I grew up with and the memories of thousands of other people who were fortunate enough to spend some time at The Bolton Palais De Danse. The success of the Petition to Save Bolton Palais from demolition is amazing I could not have dreamed for a better response in just over a week I had over 1000 people who now were supporting the fight for Our fabulous building to stay just where it is. I wasn't going to let them down...I was going to fight for our Palais..and our Social Heritage to remain. I had asked my Admin John Westhead to come along with me..he used to work at The icon and knew the building very well. Also Vinnie Thorne..he was one of the dancers during the filming of the BBC2 programme in October last year.. 'Make me feel Like Dancing' and also Bernard Cromarty..who was very knowledgable about property and restorations of other listed buildings like The Stockport Plaza.. A derelict building that was restored with the help of lottery funding etc. We all met at 2pm by the escalators in the Market Hall. After introductions we made our way through The Market Hall and up the staircase to the third floor offices where we eagerly waited to meet Nikki Wilson-Cook who would be escorting us around Bolton Palais. She did say in her email that we would need to wear a hard hat and vizi jacket as a safety precaution. When this lovely lady appeared..dressed in a very smart grey suit..she briskly greeted us all with a hand shake. She was very friendly and I felt my nerves disappearing as we introduced ourselves. Nikki escorted us through an area behind the shops to an obviously old and disused part of the Market Hall. This area is now being developed and will house the new cinema. After collecting torches from a builders hut we were led up Bridge Street and into Our Palais through a side entrance. We were met with a lovely gentleman in a vizi jacket who was joining us on the tour. Nikki was reminding us to watch our step as we walked around in darkness through the plaster and rubble that was scattered everywhere. There was no natural light in there at all so it wasn't very safe underfoot. We hadn't been given any protective clothing as suggested and the torches weren't very bright but we got too see everything. The dancefloor area and stage still looked amazing. Obviously not as amazing as it did during the BBC2 programme. The balcony areas weren't too bad..just the rubble scattered everywhere. The original carpets were still in quite good condition. It seemed all the damage and neglect was all the way around the edges. Junk stored in damp rooms. Clutter piled up everywhere.! While we wandered around this dark damp and dusty space.. conversation was flowing regarding the Palais of the old days and the changes that had been made to reduce the dancefloor area and widen some of the balcony area in front of the bar. John knew the building very well and was recognising areas and informing us what the rooms and spaces were used for when he was the key holder of this wonderful building. He showed us where his office was and remarkably there was documents and paperwork pinned on the walls with still supporting his signature..! The huge heavy metal safes were still in situ..obviously not moved or touched for years..! After viewing most areas in the Palais area we were escorted down the original staircase which led into the basement area which was another nightclub..in my day it was called The Nocturn. All the walls were painted black. The bar area was still intact. Most of this area just looked cluttered with rubble and old kitchen equipment. Nikki began to tell us that they had to remove a dozen or so mattresses from this basement area. The previous tenants/owners where Chinese and they had plans to convert the Palais into a Chinese Buffet type restaurant. Whilst renovations were being done they slept on site in the basement. They had managed to fix ornamental Chinese style lighting in the foyer area and beautiful Chinese designs on the walls. Then they all mysteriously left the building..! Nikki seemed to think they ran out of money and couldn't complete the restoration. We made our way back through the building..or tour was coming to an end. As we neared the foyer area our conversation went onto the facade and the Art Deco design and lettering. John then remembered that Jack Murphy climbed through a small window and was able to view the frontage and the Palais De Danse lettering. So off we went to find that window. John climbed out onto the thin planks with his torch. He could see the lettering still visible behind the rusting brackets and cobwebs. I tried to peer through the window space but couldn't see much so when John climbed back through the window he encouraged me to climb up through the window and see that vision for myself. Without any thought of health and safety I was up on that table and then through that tiny window like a shot.. I stood on that thin scaffolding plank staring up to view that famous lettering. I have waited quite a few years to see that. I couldn't believe I was actually seeing this with my own eyes. About six foot away from me to my right I noticed two pigeons sat huddled together on a ledge.. They stared intently at me without a care in the world..not ever wanting to move from their splendid roost. We learned a lot during our tour of Our Palais.. I am no expert on building issues but I do not believe that The Palais can't be restored.. I searched high and low for signs of rats..their dropping and chewing etc the evidence that you'd expect to see especially if it was rat infested..as we had been told in the media. I didn't find any. And I'm sure the Chinese labourers wouldn't have slept in there if it was rat infested. Nikki did say when I questioned the 'rat problem' that she had all the rat traps taken away for the duration of our visit. Also we were informed that The Facade is to be incorporated in the development and could possibly be saved...and we also learned that the area if they demolish won't be a car park..! So my lovely members..this is the story of Our Day Out To Bolton Palais.. Now the Future of Bolton Palais isn't secure. It's very likely that they won't listen to our pleas and destroy our last remaining historical heritage. The dreams of Bolton Palais de Danse being reborn and the space having a lasting future in Bolton may have to come to an end..! Can we really foresee a Future without Our Bolton Palais..? xx