Rossendale community hub set for grand re-opening

Bacup Hub, in Burnley Road, Bacup, will be managed by former pub landlords Jim and Jane Doidge, Pauline Clawson and Ken Brown.

And the building, formerly Bacup Leisure Hall, could be renamed Broadwater Hall as the new team in charge seek to rebrand and revitalise the venue.

Owners Oliver and Catherine Chadwick have agreed to hand over the running of the site to the group of business partners until they raise the £400,000 asking price

The quartet, who have been friends for years, used to run pubs Bacup, Stacksteads and Waterfoot, and wanted to open a venue where they could hold regular cabaret nights.

Mr Brown, 59, said: "We were out in the Royal Oak one night and Jim said he had found the ideal location. We have now taken on the lease with a view to purchasing the building.

"We are considering changing the name to Broadwater Hall, because we want to reflect that the River Irwell’s source is here and it also links with the centre’s location in Bacup. We are open to any suggestions people wish to make.

"We are contacting former users of the centre to ask them to come back and look to use the venue again and we want new customers to come and have a look and see what we can offer.

"We already have Fearns Community Sports College using the centre in July for the school’s awards evening and a school dance competition will be based here."

A grand re-opening event will be held on from 8pm tonight, with entertainment from singers John Grogan and Jade Lea.

Jungle Mania, a children’s indoor play facility, will stay open seven days a week, while arcade games and roller-skating sessions will also return.

Mr Doidge, 60, said: "We need to turn this place around and it is about providing something for the whole community. The place has to turn over a profit, but not to the detriment of the people of Rossendale."

Mr Chadwick added: "Catherine and I wish the new management well and I hope they can make a success of it."